Triumphant Betty Akeredolu Opens Up On Surviving Cancer, Reveals What Saved Her Life

She triumphed over breast cancer 27 years ago but lost her husband to prostate cancer on December 23, 2023.

Betty shared her story in a post on her X handle to mark World Cancer Day 2025.

Reflecting on her survival, the former First Lady explained that her positive mindset played a crucial role in overcoming cancer, especially since her children were very young at the time. She emphasized the importance of taking control of her health, stating that eliminating starchy foods like pounded yam, eba, Amala, and Akpu from her diet was key to her survival after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Betty also credited her decision to seek medical treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, rather than turning to spiritual healers, as a pivotal factor in her recovery.

She said, “My experience with cancer is a mixture of triumph and grief. I defeated breast cancer 27 years ago, but just over a year ago, on December 26, 2023, I lost my husband, Aketi, to prostate cancer. Today, I share my story to inform, inspire, and empower others to take action against cancer, both individually and as a community.

“The key to my survival at the age of 44 was my mindset and belief. I never saw my cancer as the result of anyone’s malice or a spiritual attack. I didn’t turn to the church or spiritualists—I went to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. My education helped me understand that cancer is a medical issue, nothing more. I was right! The doctors at UCH treated me, and I was fortunate to present early at stage 1, with no lymph node involvement. I soon educated myself by reading medical publications on breast cancer, including Cochrane publications.

“As I read more and attended international conferences, I realized that my longevity after cancer depended on my lifestyle. With young children, I was determined to do everything in my power to live and raise them. If cutting out sugary drinks, starchy foods like eba, pounded yam, Amala, and Akpu would help me, I did it. I stopped drinking sodas, avoided ‘swallow’ foods, and quit bread since 2000!”