ABEOKUTA — For 11 women in Ogun State, what began as a routine breast cancer screening exercise in 2025 became a life-changing journey from fear and uncertainty to treatment and renewed hope.
The women, who were found to have suspicious breast lumps during the free screening programme organised by the UPLIFT Development Foundation in September 2025, later underwent free lumpectomy surgeries after further medical investigations.
Their treatment, including post-operative care, was supported by the Foundation, ensuring that the women were not left to face the financial and emotional burden of a possible cancer diagnosis alone.
Founder of UPLIFT Development Foundation, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, disclosed this on Wednesday while flagging off the 2026 edition of the Foundation’s free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Programme at the Telemedicine Centre of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
According to her, the experience of the 11 women demonstrates why early detection and access to medical care remain critical in the fight against cancer.
“ We did not only identify a problem and leave the patient to face the consequences alone. Rather, we did our best to ensure that the affected women receive the appropriate medical attention and support,” she said.
Amosun said more than 600 women benefited from last year’s screening, while 22 women were identified with breast-related conditions requiring further attention.
She explained that 11 of those who were diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps subsequently underwent free lumpectomy surgeries in November 2025.
For the Foundation, the intervention goes beyond organising an annual screening exercise. It is about giving women an opportunity to detect health challenges early and ensuring that those requiring further care are supported.
Amosun said cancer remained a major health challenge, noting that many women continue to present late because of inadequate awareness, fear and limited access to screening and treatment.
She therefore urged women not to wait until they feel sick before seeking medical attention.
“Our message today remains simple: please do not wait until you feel sick before you pay attention to your health,” she said.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the free screening, ask questions and seek professional medical advice whenever necessary.
She also urged them to become ambassadors of preventive healthcare by taking the message of early detection back to their families and communities.
“By sharing what you learn, you will extend the impact far beyond this hall,” she said.
The UPLIFT founder stressed that a cancer diagnosis should not automatically be regarded as a death sentence, saying early detection, appropriate treatment and proper follow-up could significantly improve outcomes.
She called for a shift “from fear to awareness, from silence to conversation, and from late presentation to early action.”
Amosun also appreciated the management and medical personnel of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, for their partnership, as well as doctors, nurses, technicians, volunteers and other healthcare professionals involved in the programme.
She acknowledged the continued support of her husband, former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, whose support, she said, had enabled the Foundation to extend its intervention beyond screening to treatment and other forms of assistance for women in need.
The Foundation, established in 2012, has over the years undertaken initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women, widows, young people and vulnerable members of society.
As the 2026 screening exercise begins, the story of the 11 women who moved from suspicious lumps to treatment offers a powerful reminder that a simple decision to get screened can be the first step towards saving a life.
