UK-based Nigerian music executive, Grace Ladoja, recently opened up about her quiet battle with breast cancer. In a video shared on her social media page, Ladoja said her unexpected health journey began in August 2025 after what she described as a routine check-up.
She was initially diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer.
However, by October 2025, her condition had progressed. According to her, doctors removed tissue from her breast for further examination and later confirmed that the cancer was more advanced, stage two and invasive.
Ladoja disclosed that she began chemotherapy immediately after the updated diagnosis and had to freeze her eggs before starting treatment.
Like Ladoja, many Nigerian women, particularly between a younger age 13 and 39, are frequently diagnosed with breast cancer. For some, the disease is caught early enough to treat. For many others, diagnosis comes too late.
In 2025, the State of Health of the Nation Reports released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed that only six per cent of Nigerian women have undergone breast screening.
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The report cited persistently low cancer screening rates among women of reproductive age, poor awareness, limited access to screening services and financial constraints as the main contributors.
In hospitals across the country, doctors say ignorance, fear and cultural stigma remain the biggest barriers to survival.
Breast Cancer in Nigeria: Understanding the Disease
Breast cancer, undoubtedly, remains one of the most pressing health challenges facing women in Nigeria, Africa’s largest country by population.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. The tumours, if unchecked, can spread throughout the body and become fatal.
In its earlier form, breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. Some types of breast cancer grow slowly and remain contained in the breast, while others spread more quickly to nearby tissue or other parts of the body.
The most common types of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Other types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), and metastatic breast cancer (MBC), among other less common types.
Data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 22.7% of all new cancer cases and 18.1% of cancer deaths.
What are the Early Signs of Breast Cancer?
Early signs of breast cancer improves suvival rates. Women are often asked to look out for the following warning signs
A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit,
Change in size or shape of both breasts
Skin changes like dimpling or redness; nipple changes, such as turning inward (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema); and unusual nipple discharge.
Pain in your breast or armpit
Most experts urge regular self -examination, (checking your breasts regularly so you know what’s normal for you). This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.
Contributing Elements of Breast Cancer
Studies have shown that risk for breast cancer is influenced by a combination of factors, which might include genetic mutations and reproductive history, hormonal and lifestyle factors.
Some risk factors cannot be controlled, including: Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, Inherited gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, and personal history of breast cancer and Dense breast tissue.
However, certain lifestyle-related factors may increase risk, including:
Physically inactive. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Being overweight or obese, particularly after menopause. Older women who are overweight or have obesity have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a healthy weight.
Excessive alcohol consumption, studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.
Taking hormones. Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (those that include both estrogen and progesterone) taken during menopause can raise the risk for breast cancer when taken for more than 5 years. Certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have also been found to raise breast cancer risk.
Reproductive history. Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding, and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
And lastly, late first pregnancy (after age 30), not breastfeeding, or never having a full-term pregnancy
What Preventive Measures Can Women Take?
To reduce the risk of cancer, it is important that young and middle-aged women (these are age groups more prone to getting the disease) adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay informed about the risks.
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Although not all cancers can be prevented, adopting healthy habits can help lower the risk:
- Eat whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Stay active and keep a healthy weight.
- Avoid tobacco products, including cigarettes.
- Limit alcohol use.
- Protect one’s skin from the sun.
Even when risk factors are present, regular screenings, healthy habits, and working with a health care provider can help lower the risk of getting cancer and help find it early.