Care Organization. Public Enlightenment. C.O.P E. was founded in 1995 and fully registered with the corporate affairs commission, Federal republic of Nigeria, under the Companies and allied matters Decree No1 1990 ( Part C Incorporated Trustees) in 1999, 7th of January, Reg. Rc 11774. We are a nation wide not-for-profit, non – Governmental voluntary health organization. C.O.P E. is a member of International Union Against Cancer, Geneva.
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women. Sadly, the mortality rate is also on the increase. This need not happen since it has been shown that early detection improves survival rate. Unfortunately, majority of women present late, due to ignorance.
At the Beijing platfom for action, adopted at the 4th world conference on women I 1995, one of the decisions taken stated “ women have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”.

Although, majority of women are unaware of their rights, they know what they want, food and better health throughout their lives. This is frequently denied them and whatever ill- health women suffer in the so called developed world, the situation is incomparably worse for the great majority who live in the developing countries.

The 46 million countries that make up the African region according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) , classification cover more than a sixth of the worlds landmass, all are developing countries. Though rich in natural resources , the region is poor in technology, and a huge number of ethnic groups (nearly 400 in Nigeria alone). Each with it’s own language and culture, the varied religious beliefs, political circumstances, and traditional forms of health care make generalization about social and living conditions difficult.

Improved knowledge acquired through literacy, education and enhanced reasoning power creates needed awareness of the Nigerian woman. If armed with vital information on health issues, they can strive to practise the knowledge acquired. Traditional notions inimical to healthy living are questioned. These are avoidance of harmful cultural practices, and traditional customs, and beliefs in supernatural causes of illness or death is reduced.

Cancer is fast becoming a major cause of morbidity throughout the world. More than half of the worlds population now live in countries where Cancer is among the top ranking causes of death.
With successful efforts in developing countries, to reduce the number of premature deaths, life expectancy at birth will continue to increase, as will the proportion of birth control surviving ages in which cancer risk is high. It has also been observed that with socio-economic development, lifestyles and behavioral patterns can be expected to change.

These changes may be associated with the enviroment as a consequence of industrialization and urbanization, some of these changes may work towards increased cancer risk for the population.
In Nigeria today, the most common of Cancers among women are those of the breast, cervix and ovary. Available statistics say of deaths that occur in women due to health diseases, 65% are cancer related.
In Nigeria, cancer is now a prominent public health concern. Especially cancer of the breast. It is therefore important that steps are initiated to prepare healthservices for the task we would have to face as infectious, parasitic and nutritional diseases are brought under control.

Over the years, we have found out that breast cancer does not only affect the diseased, but the entire family, men have been known to sell landed property to help financially. Much as we categorize breast cancer as an individual disease, it is also a family disease.
Profit making organizations spend more money treating just one member of staff, rather than spend less educating the entire staff on early detection of breast cancer.