Stigma hinders cancer patients, survivors from seeking support – Doctors 

Two medical doctors and co-founders of the BRICON Foundation, Dr Niyi Adekeye and Abigail Simon-Hart, have said that stigma and negative perceptions surrounding cancer are discouraging patients and survivors from seeking the needed support.

They stated this during the foundation’s 10th anniversary, where it celebrated cancer survivors and renewed its commitment to supporting patients, survivors, and families affected by the condition.

Speaking at the anniversary event, held on Saturday in Lagos, Adekeye called for greater public awareness and stronger support systems for cancer patients and survivors. He identified funding and stigma as challenges confronting cancer patients, survivors and organisations working in the sector.

He explained that unlike some medical interventions that could be concluded after a single procedure, cancer support was often a continuous process requiring long-term assistance. He also noted that stigma had previously discouraged many cancer patients from openly discussing their condition or seeking support.

“People stigmatise cancer patients. So, cancer patients don’t want to come out. But now, they are coming out because we keep encouraging them. Cancer is continuous. It’s a continuous thing. So, people who are giving money, they get tired. They run away from it. So, it’s always funding,” he said.

Adekeye said the foundation had spent the past decade providing support in several areas, including cancer screening, treatment, medication, surgeries, education, vocational training, mentoring, and livelihood support.

According to him, the foundation’s interventions over the years had impacted more than 1,000 people and possibly up to 2,000 beneficiaries through its different programs.

Also speaking, another co-founder of the foundation, Abigail Simon-Hart, said the foundation’s 10th anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on a decade of service to cancer patients, survivors, and their families. She said the organisation currently had more than 300 cancer survivors on its group platform and had supported thousands of people through its various programs.

Simon-Hart, who was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago, said her personal experience had shown her the importance of having people around who understood the challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis. “They get to hang out with fellow survivors. They hear their stories and get encouraged,” she said.

Simon-Hart said the foundation’s long-term vision was to see a Nigeria and a world where cancer had been cured, and organisations providing the kind of services offered by BRICON were no longer necessary. She urged people living with cancer not to hide their diagnosis because of shame or stigma, stressing that early detection and treatment could save lives.

“Cancer is not a death sentence. You have to speak out. There’s no shame in having cancer,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Iwalade Adeorimi, who said she had survived cancer twice, described the anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate life and express gratitude. According to her, the foundation’s impact went beyond financial assistance because its members provided emotional support and regularly checked on survivors.

She urged cancer patients not to allow the fear of the disease or social stigma to overwhelm them, noting that she had survived cancer twice.

Another beneficiary, Akindele Ajoke, who has been with the foundation for about three years, said the organisation had supported her with tuition fees, financial assistance, and emotional support. Ajoke said cancer could affect anyone regardless of age, gender or social status and urged people living with the disease to connect with survivor support groups.