I Walk for Cancer Prevention

“4^th of February is world cancer day and I would be going on a walk for cancer prevention that would take place at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos... join us naa” she said to me. This was about 10PM, a day before the scheduled event.

Who gives you an impromptu notification or invite like this and expect you to show up. Most times, such invites are just to fulfill all righteousness – "let it not be like I did not tell him". I slept over the information and by morning around 5:00AM when I woke up, I made up my mind to attend. So I got up and prepared. Some friends accused me for not informing them about the event, I am sure by the time they read this, they will understand.

At about 7AM, I was already at the venue at VI all the way from Ikeja, even before the friend that invited me. In fact, when she saw me, she was like: "haaa...! did you fly?"

I convinced myself to go for 3 reasons.

1. We (Nigerians) are most times more ignorant than we think. A thing as serious as cancer will always sound like a story to a lot of people until they fall victim or know someone close who has it. If my actions in small ways like this, can help create awareness on a very serious health issue as Cancer, why not? Too many have died (and are dying) for no reason.

Walk for cancer prevention

2. It’s been a while I did good exercise, and I knew that the walk will give me the chance to do so. So I seized the opportunity and it felt great, I must confess.

Aerobics after the walk

3. Since the Walk for Cancer Prevention is through the streets of VI, I would have nice views and many beautiful things to shot and images to create… so I made sure I went with my Nikon Camera. I hardly get such opportunity.

A Little about Cancer

According to cancercenter.com; Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and cells grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some cancers, such as leukaemia does not form tumors.

There are different types of cancers and they usually are names according to the part of the body they affect. Most common is breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, amongst others.

Important to Note

- Cancer is real and no one is actually immune to it.

- About 1/3 of cancer that occurs can be prevented

- Bad lifestyles like smoking and drinking, increases ones chances of having cancer

- Endeavour to eat healthy; this helps to reduce ones chances of having cancer

- Exercise (ie. Reasonable physical activities) helps, being overweight doesn’t.

- As one ages, the chances to have cancer increase.

- With early detection of cancer, it can be dealt with

- Go for regular health check-up.

I checked my BMI, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar level after the walk

It is said that doctors do not usually know what causes a person’s cancer. Is it not funny, with all these predisposing factors? But that should not bother us. Let’s keep leaving a healthy life and continue with healthy lifestyles. God is our refuge.

Let’s celebrate the victory of those who have fought cancer and won.

Fight with those who are fighting at the moment, with our prays and support in cash or kind.

Volunteers helping to raise funds for a woman with breast cancer

For those who do not have it, let’s continue the awareness.

Awareness all the way

NB. The walk for cancer awareness was organised by Cancer Aware Nigeria, Oceanic Health etc. I salute their effort.