A medical doctor and First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu has warned Nigerians against the consumption of groundnuts, saying it predisposes children in particular as well as adults to cancer.
Shinkafi-Bagudu noted that the fungus in groundnuts known as aflatoxins makes children susceptible to health conditions associated with stunted growth, delayed development, liver damage and cancer.
The medical expert spoke against the backdrop of this year’s International World Cancer day.
According to her, unknown to many people, the greenish fungus in roasted groundnut is dangerous for consumption as it has the capability to cause damage to the body’s immune system.
She warned that the diet of a child could predisposed him or her to cancer but which may not manifest in the first 10 years of life.
Roasted groundnut with greenish fungus on it is infected and children should stay away and adult should be careful too because the damage it does to immune system to our body and network.
Shinkafi-Bagudu listed the different kinds of cancers to include cancer of the blood (Leukaemia), stating that toxins and viruses make children susceptible to them.
She also disclosed that a certain kind of malaria could predispose children to cancer formation.
The Kebbi First Lady said, “Talking of food that predispose children to cancer, groundnut tend to contain fungus known as aflatoxins. Children are particularly affected by aflatoxin exposure, which is associated with stunted growth, delayed development, liver damage, and liver cancer. Roasted groundnut with greenish fungus on it is infected and children should stay away from eating it and adult too should be careful because of the damage it does to our body’s immune system and network.”
Also speaking, a Clinical Radiation Oncologist, Dr Adedayo Joseph, described cancer as a scary disease because of its devastating effect on the body system.
Joseph noted that cancer was not a disease anyone should pretend about.
She, however, stated that cervical cancer is not only curable, but also preventable as it can be vaccinated against.
“It’s more sensible to get screened for early detection so it can be eradicated before it gets to cancer stage,” Joseph said.
She, however, said lifestyle changes are very important, just as living healthily and making right choices are very important before a cancer diagnosis is made.
“When a cancer diagnosis is made, there are three ways to get rid of it – surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many people over the year have tried authentic therapy and actual therapy but nine or 10 come back with very advanced cases you cannot longer treat successfully,” Joseph said.