Wife of Ondo State governor-elect, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, is the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading NGO galvanising action against breast cancer in Nigeria.
She founded the body in 1997 having survived breast cancer herself.
In an interview with The Nation in 2015, the 63-year-old fisheries graduate from the University of Philippines, said she opted to remove one of her breasts to survive the deadly disease.
Beauty was the last thing on her mind because she could not think of someone her raising her children.
“My preoccupation was how to live and be there for my children,” she said.
Looking back at the successful mastectomy conducted in Nigeria, the Imo-born activist added: “Honestly, other women may have other priorities. For me, the question was ‘what am I going to do to stay? If it means removing this breast, please remove the damn thing!’ That was what I told my consultant.”
With proper counselling, she was spared the feeling of self-pity. Neither does she feel deformed nor less sexy.
Hear her: “I was opportune to attend international conferences where I met women who have had the same experience and they are living their lives to the fullest. There are places where you can get the best breast pad and no one would be able to spot the difference.”
A change of lifestyle has kept her healthy 19 years after her mastectomy.
“For almost five years, I have not swallowed eba, amala and pounded yam. They are out! I don’t take soda drinks. I have two adopted sons and they’ll tell you mummy’s food is water melon and groundnuts. Occasionally I take moin-moin. But my staple is groundnuts. I am a social eater of rice,” she told The Nation.
“There are things that aid the proliferation of cancer cells, and they are sugar-based. I know the end product of carbohydrate is sugar, so if you need to add more years, cut down on carbohydrate, especially if you are a person living with cancer. Then eat more of fruits and vegetables; it’s detoxifies your system. Your skin glows and your hair become healthier. Again, exercise is important. I do Yoga every morning. In the morning between 5:30 and 6, I do 30 minutes aerobics. I have also introduced aerobics here and yoga. So, first Saturday of the month, members come here, both well women and survivors.”
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu is an active participant in the annual Jog for Life and other BRECAN programmes to promote breast cancer awareness.
With the support of her husband, Rotimi Akeredolu, the Amazon is also an advocate for the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement.
