Help: 35-year-old mother of four seeks N3m for cancer surgery
A 35-year-old woman identified as Ann Agbaraj is appealing for the sum of N3m to enable her to undergo cancer surgery.
An appeal letter dated April 5, 2024, by Advocates in Defence of Human Rights and Culture signed by the National President, Joseph Onagunwa, made available to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, said the 35-year-old required financial assistance following the decay of the two breasts.
Ann is said to be a member of a civil society organisation with nationwide coverage in 18 states.
According to the letter, “She has been battling with breast cancer since November 2020. It started as a small, round, painless, knotty lump with a slippery nature inside her left breast.
“Over time, she had gone through all kinds of treatments, culminating in her admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba. She had done a series of mammography, chemotherapy, and radiography.
“Earlier this year, 2024, Mrs. Agbaraj was finally advised to go for the removal of her left breast forthwith. She ought to have carried out the surgical operation in February 2024 but for lack of funds. Between that time and now, she has been to the State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, and other places only to keep maintaining the breast, spurring out worms and foul odour.”
In a confirmation medical report by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, signed by a consultant pathologist identified simply as Dr N. A. Awolola, Ann was said to have been diagnosed with “invasive grade 2 tumour cancer that’s more likely to spread.”
Speaking with PUNCH Metro in a telephone interview on Tuesday, Ann pleaded with Nigerians to come to her aid while expressing fear that the tumour might harm the remaining parts of her body.
“The breast has a very big lump, and it is decaying and smelling. Flies are gathering around the breast, and they drop water. When I told my husband, we thought it was a normal thing, but it became worse. It is very wide, almost covering my whole body.
“Please, I want to plead with the government and Nigerians to help me. I will be forever grateful. I paid up to N400,000 last December, but they said the situation is worse and they have to start all over again,” she said.
When contacted, the National President, Advocates in the Defence of Human Rights and Culture, Onagunwa, told our correspondent that the victim’s two breasts needed to be removed, at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, at the cost of N3m.
“The help she needs is N3m to remove the two breasts. She has spent millions of naira. I will be very glad if people can help her because we do not want to lose her. As of January, the Lagos State Teaching Hospital told her to pay N3m.”
Donations can be made to Ann’s Zenith account number, 2260951366; account name: Agbaraj Ochuko Ann. Punch
