Sierra Leonean Student Discovers New Breast Cancer Treatment!

Cancer does not discriminate. Regardless of age, gender or race, the cruel disease affects us all.

Breast cancer has personally impacted on my own family, and I am well aware of the devastation the initial diagnosis causes.

Did you know that Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among Black women? It is also the second leading cause of death for Black women.

But incredibly, a student from Abuja has made groundbreaking discoveries in the way breast cancer is treated.

Sandra Musujusu has developed an alternative treatment for a subtype of breast cancer commonly found in black women, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

“My research is actually centered on the development of biodegradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer,” Musujusu told the Tribune. 

“I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer, which is actually the aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”

Musujusu, who hails from Sierra Leone but studies at the African University of Science and Technology, had her research unveiled on July 6.

World Bank director Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi visited the Nigerian school as a part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centers of Excellence locations. 

Jaime Saavedra met Sandra Musujusu,MSc from an African Centre of Excellence in Nigeria,who is researching an alt treatment for breast cancer pic.twitter.com/MNaSGmOxXl

— World Bank Education (@WBG_Education) July 6, 2017

Musujusu, whose research has been sponsored by the Pan African Materials Institute, told the Tribune that she believes her work is a big step for medical advancements in Africa. 

“I believe there is a bright future for Africa, and as a woman there is much more we can do if we are empowered,” she said.

“This award given to me by PAMI has empowered me to face my studies with more confidence and actually contribute to the frontier of knowledge and move Africa forward.”