Hair dying causes cancer, Don warns

Prof. Folahan Adekola of the Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, has warned that dying of hair increases risk of cancer.

Adekola made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin.

He said that hair dye formulations contained chemicals known as Yombo-fitta and Yombo-tumtum, which he said are freely sold in Nigerian markets for people to dye their grey hair and look younger.

According to him, these same dyes are also used to dye clothing materials.

The expert explained that research had revealed the presence of highly toxic metals such as lead and arsenic and other carcinogenic compound in the dyes.

Adekola pointed out that given the widespread use of hair dye products; even a small increase in risk may have a considerable public health impact.

“The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that hairdressers and barbers are at increased risks of bladder cancer due to exposure to these chemicals,” he added.

The chemists suggested that it was important to therefore eliminate human exposure for sustainable development in the country.

“Especially human exposure to carcinogens and other toxic chemicals found in air, water and food and other consumer products,’’ said Adekola

Hair dying causes cancer, Don warns

How I survived cancer, by Okonjo-Iweala

Abuja—A rare insight into the past physical challenge of the coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerged yesterday when she disclosed that she survived cancer 15 years ago affirming the scare is not the end of life.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

She spoke at the service of songs for the late Oronto Douglas, special adviser to the president on research and documentation that held in Abuja last night.

The service was attended by a cross section of the society from civil society, government, the media, the clergy among others.

President Goodluck Jonathan was represented by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, at the service which remarkably brought together his associates from both sides of the political divide including former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Pastor Tunde Bakare who brought greetings from General Muhammadu Buhari, ministers, former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senator-Elect Ben Murray Bruce, deputy managing director of Thisday, Mr. Kayode Komolafe among several others.

In her remarks at the occasion, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said: “Oronto and I had two similarities in life, we both had cancer. I had my last surgery, 15 years ago and I shared my experience with him,” she said, narrating how she repeatedly sought to encourage him using her triumph over the disease.

Tributes from several speakers centered on how Oronto built bridges across political divides. Dr. Fayemi, Hon Uche Onyeogocha leading members of the All Progressives Congress, APC spoke in that direction and they were buttressed by Pastor Bakare.

Tributes also came from former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State, Dr. Sam Amadi, chairman National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Rev. Nnimmo Bassey, Yinka Odumakin, Ken Saro Wiwa among others.

…Denies appointing PWC to audit NNPC

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, denied appointing Price WaterHouse Coopers to conduct the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Reacting to a suit against her, filed by SIAO Partners, a group of three accounting firms, over breach of Nigeria’s local content laws, Okonjo-Iweala in a statement, wondered why the aggrieved firms could not do their work thoroughly to determine certain basic facts about the issue.

The statement, signed by her Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said, “It has come to the attention of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that SIAO Partners, a group of three accounting firms, has filed a suit against her before a Lagos High Court.

 

How I survived cancer, by Okonjo-Iweala

Ahmadu Bellow University Discredits Buhari Cancer Report

By Ekele Peter Agbo

The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), has discredited the purported report said to have emanated from the hospital to the effect that General Muhammadu Buhari is stricken with cancer, the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation has said.

Buhari

A statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign in Abuja on Saturday described as disdainful, distractive, mischievous, fake and fallacious the trending news report of an alleged prostate cancer condition of its presidential flag bearer, Buhari being credited to a source from the renowned Teaching Hospital.

“It (report of cancer) is untrue and condescending of its exponents. I have it on good authority that GMB has not visited the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in the last five years. So, how can anyone say that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last October, barely three months ago?” Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity of the Campaign said.

“This is the highest point of political distraction, malice and mischief. The report was not only fake but unfounded. I have spoken to impeccable sources at ABUTH all of whom deny the report and also claimed that the letterhead used was not their regular one, and that Dr. Bala Mohammed that purportedly approved the false Medical Report is not on the personnel list of that department,” he said.

Aside, Shehu said sources at ABUTH also disclosed that “Medical Report analysis only come from Laboratory Technologists and not Medical Doctors as handwritten in this particular case, stressing that General Buhari did not attend the hospital for cancer or any other ailment.”

Shehu also dismissed as figment of the imagination of “wicked and evil persons,” rumour that General Buhari may be travelling to the United States towards the end of this month for medical check up.

He restated its earlier statement on Friday that Buhari is as fit as a fiddle.

Shehu while dismissing the report as fabrications, however, said that “as a prominent leader of the opposition, many interests across the Globe want him (GMB) over for political and diplomatic consultations,” adding that the “invitation to the US may not be unconnected to this.”

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Ahmadu Bellow University Discredits Buhari Cancer Report

I"m a cancer survivor - Soyinka

The Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday disclosed that he is a cancer survivor.

He disclosed that he battled with cancer and survived only after receiving vigorous medications.

Mr. Soyinka spoke during a press conference at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said the disease was first diagnosed December 2013 and thanks to the early detection and compliance with medications, which he completed on October 28, he was free.

He noted that the diseases was not a death sentence.

“For me, this is not a decision which I like but I felt I have all obligation being a member of African Cancer Center and also having even donated a performance during the festival, fund raising for cancer, I am under obligation to make it known and to also demystify cancer,” he said.

“Many people feel it is a death sentence. Family feel it; friends, colleagues, they begin to look at you as if you are a ghost once there is rumour you have cancer. No, cancer is not a death sentence, it is curable, I have undergone the treatment and I am able to tell you that I even have a model, that’s my certificate.”

He said he had a good reason for getting personal about it as a few years ago he was invited to become a board member of the Africa Cancer Center and even delivered the inaugural lecture, Cancers, Lifestyles.

“It never occurred to me to test myself because men have their separate test like women,” he said. “And I have heard people who lost very dear ones, closed ones. They just told me, ‘Prof, we hope you’re having your own?’ And I told them I had one 10 years ago and he said, “No, no, do it regularly.” And by accident in December last year, I discovered that I had cancer.”

Mr. Soyinka said he was interested in using himself to encourage others to take whatever test available to them but more importantly to encourage those in charge of health matters to take seriously the cancer menace.

“The important thing is that I am convinced that we have enough funds in this nation to build cancer centres, including research that this nation require,” he said. “It is very capital intensive, some of it, but there are many ways and treatments for cancer just like there are many kinds of cancer. Even diet forms an important part. Diet is critical.”

Mr. Soyinka told PREMIUM TIMES that when he was first diagnosed he considered the disease a nuisance.

“I just felt that it was a nuisance,” he said. “There were a lot of things I wanted to do and it was disrupting my normal existence. I just felt I should start re-adjusting. I just saw it another challenge in life.”

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I"m a cancer survivor - Soyinka

Dora Akunyili Died Of Uterine Cancer — Family Sources

By Saharareporters, New York

Family sources have told SaharaReporters that Dora Akunyili, a former professor of pharmacy, former director general of the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and one-time Minister of Information, died of complications arising from uterine cancer.

One relative told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Akunyili was completely healthy until she lost the Anambra senatorial election in 2011 to Senator Chris Ngige.

The source stated that, at the end of the legal tussle over the election, the former minister visited the U.S. in 2013 to undergo what she thought would be a routine medical checkup. “Her doctor in America did a hysterectomy and found out that she had a malignant endometrial cancer,” said this source. He added that it was the tumor that eventually took her life last week in a hospital in the Indian city of Bangalore after she had struggled with the disease for two years.

Another family source stated that Mrs. Akunyili had received the best treatment after undergoing surgery to remove the tumor, but disclosed that the cancer was of such malignant state that it resisted therapy.

One of the two sources revealed that Mrs. Akunyili maintained an optimistic spirit throughout her illness. “She never once believed that she would succumb to the disease,” he said. “Instead, she returned to Nigeria determined to fight the disease.” He added that the former minister was so upbeat about triumphing over the sickness that she accepted her nomination as a delegate to the ongoing National Confab in Abuja. Her emaciated appearance at the conference was the first sign that she was seriously ill.

The other family source also said that, in 1998, Mrs. Akunyili had received a wrong diagnosis of cancer. She was serving then as the Zonal Secretary (Southeast) of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). “She traveled to the UK then for treatment. Doctors then discovered that she was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Said the family source: “Once she returned to Nigeria, she paid back the money the PTF had given her for treatment. General Muhammadu Buhari was then the leader of PTF. She was in excellent health until last year when her US doctor found that she had malignant endometrial cancer.”

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Dora Akunyili Died Of Uterine Cancer — Family Sources