Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of the late former
governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has revealed that eliminating
starchy foods from her diet was a key factor in her survival after being
diagnosed with breast cancer 27 years ago.
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated that her decision to stop
eating eba, amala, akpu, and pounded yam was driven by her determination
to stay alive and raise her young children.
In a social media post marking World Cancer Day, she
described her cancer journey as a “mixed grill of triumph and grief,”
emphasising how lifestyle changes, research, and medical intervention
contributed to her survival.
“If stopping Coke and other soft drinks, as well as
swallowing eba, pounded yam, amala, and akpu, would prolong my
life-knowing that starchy foods and sugar fuel the growth of cancer-so
be it. That was exactly what I did,” she wrote.
She disclosed that since the year – 2000, she has
avoided sugary and starchy foods, opting instead for a diet rich in
vegetables, smoothies, green tea, lemon and ginger tea, beans, moimoi,
fish, chicken, snail, occasional rice, and zobo drink.
The former Ondo First Lady, whose husband passed away
from prostate cancer on December 23, 2023, stressed that her positive
mindset played a major role in her survival. She said her decision to
seek medical care at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan,
instead of relying on spiritual healers, was crucial.
She added that she was fortunate to have detected the cancer early at stage 1.
As the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of
Nigeria (BRECAN), she highlighted the significance of Team Survivors
Nigeria (TSN), a support group for breast cancer survivors.
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