The Pathfinder
Tuesday November 11, 2025
Please, share this story:
A senior lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Muhammad Habeebu, has warned that unhealthy lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption, sedentary living, and frequent intake of processed or junk foods significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, especially among women.
Habeebu, who is also a consultant radiation and clinical oncologist and chief clinical coordinator at the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, noted that although gender remains the strongest risk factor, lifestyle choices play a critical role in determining vulnerability.
“About 99 percent of breast cancer cases are found in women. The older a woman is, the higher the risk. Black women also tend to develop breast cancer earlier than their Caucasian counterparts,” he said.
He explained that hormonal contraceptive use, delayed childbirth, and failure to breastfeed further raise the risk. According to him, women who have their first child before the age of 25 and those who breastfeed enjoy a degree of natural protection.
Habeebu also highlighted hereditary influence, noting that mutations in genes such as BRCA could predispose entire families to the disease. While men account for about one percent of breast cancer cases, he said these are usually linked to shared genetic factors.
He emphasized the importance of prevention and early detection through healthy living and routine screening.
“Women should maintain an active lifestyle, reduce alcohol intake, avoid high-fat and processed foods, and engage in regular exercise. Self-examination and clinical breast checks every six months are also important,” he advised.
Habeebu cautioned that misconceptions about chemotherapy and reliance on unverified herbal remedies often lead to late presentation, reducing survival chances.
“Herbal remedies have not been scientifically proven to cure cancer,” he stressed, urging patients to seek proper medical treatment.
While acknowledging recent interventions such as the Cancer Health Fund and CAP programme, he noted that access to treatment remains challenging due to high costs.
He called for continuous cancer screening, improved awareness, and lifestyle adjustments, adding that “exercise helps to prevent cancer and also reduces the risk of hypertension and diabetes.”
FTN
We are here to serve you news and information.
Your donations, reactions and advert placement are welcome.
Contact us on 08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999(WhatsApp)
idowuadelusi@gmail.com,thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook (Idowu Oluwole Adelusi)