As a result of a diagnosis of METASTATIC BREAST CANCER in the brain, the challenges and a lack of honest discussions and literature were central to the founding of the Cormode Cancer Foundation (CCF). Cormode is my mother’s maiden name, and both my grandmother’s and my mother died of cancer, which was central to my vision. It has since underlined the need for change, as cancer is a disease that is still a global burden 50 years later. CCF was registered and fully documented in Nigeria in 2019. As the CEO, over the last seven years, I have undergone three brain surgeries and had gamma knife surgery (using radiotherapy) to remove seven additional tumours and different treatment regimens to shrink four to five tumours, including chemotherapy. This lived experience is the focal point of the vision.

Cancer is discussed as the C word. Everyone’s biggest nightmare. Before being told the word is a possible diagnostic option, you are hopeful, pretending you did not see the signs, and trying to rationalize, explain, review, and GOOGLE everything online. It does not help because it is in Medical speak—JARGONS, to be precise. Our first reactions are….