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By Oluseye Ojo
Prof Oludolapo Afuwape of the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has raised the alarm that a lot of Nigerians have cut short their lives through self- diagnoses of having hemorrhoids or piles, also known as ‘jedijedi’, when actually they have colon cancer.
He raised the alarm during the Dr Olumiyiwa Olugbolahan Olusanya Colon Cancer Screening and Awareness Campaign, organised by the Miracle From Willing Hearts Initiative in collaboration with College of Medicine, UI, held at the Paul Hendrickde Lecture Theatre within the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Afuwape, a Consultant General Surgeon, who delivered a lecture on the topic: ‘Burden of Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria, enjoined citizens to ensure that they go for screening for colon cancer once every year because it can be treated and cured when it is still at the polyps stage, which is a precursor to colon cancer. He also stated that herbal concoction would not cure colon cancer.
His words: “Most people think that once there is blood in the stool, it is jedijedi. Some think that when you have itching around the anus, it is jedijedi. Some think that when a man is impotent, it is jedijedi. Some say when you have low back pain, it is jedijedi. But the real jedijedi probably may be haemorrhoids, which causes blood.
“But haemorrhoids are easy to treat and don’t kill, but haemorrhoids mimics cancer. This is why we need to see what exactly is jedijedi. Let us define it; it is not cancer. But the incidence of colon cancer in Nigeria is probably for every 100,000, you will get about eight to nine persons.”
The colon cancer awareness campaign was initiated by a United States-based medical doctor, Dr. Olugbenga Dawodu, in honour of his nonagenarian father-in-law, Dr. Olumuyiwa Olugbolahan Olusanya.
Speakers include the Provost, College of Medicine, UI, Prof Temidayo Ogundiran; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof Abiodun Otegbayo, and former President, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Worldwide, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin, among others.
