Lagos, December 27, 2025 – Esther Ezinne Omolola Mensah, the 38-year-old Lagos-based personal shopper and market vendor popularly known online as “Aunty Esther,” has passed away following a prolonged struggle with advanced breast cancer.
Mensah gained widespread recognition on social media for her persistent promotion of personal shopping services, often commenting under trending topics to offer market runs for foodstuffs like pepper and vegetables. Her straightforward and hardworking persona endeared her to many Nigerians.
In late 2025, Mensah publicly disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis, which had spread to her armpit area. A crowdfunding campaign, coordinated by supporters, raised over ₦30 million to fund her treatment at the Lakeshore Cancer Centre in Lagos.
Medical reports indicated that her condition required optimization of blood levels before commencing chemotherapy. Doctors recommended blood transfusion to address severe anemia, a common complication in cancer patients undergoing treatment. However, as a devoted member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mensah declined the transfusion, aligning with the faith’s doctrine that prohibits the acceptance of whole blood or major blood components, based on biblical interpretations of passages such as Acts 15:28-29.
Jehovah’s Witnesses seek alternative medical strategies, often referred to as “bloodless medicine,” including erythropoietin injections, iron therapy, and other methods to stimulate blood production. These approaches, while effective in some cases, can take longer and carry higher risks in advanced or aggressive cancers where rapid intervention is critical.
Despite receiving care and alternative treatments, Mensah’s condition deteriorated, leading to her death on December 27, 2025. Her passing was confirmed by close associates involved in her care.
Mensah’s case highlighted ongoing debates surrounding religious autonomy in medical decisions versus evidence-based interventions. Studies, including reviews in medical journals, note that transfusions can significantly improve outcomes in anemic cancer patients by supporting chemotherapy tolerance and reducing mortality risks.
She is survived by her husband and family. Her story underscored the challenges faced by patients navigating faith and modern medicine in life-threatening illnesses.