Cancer is a relentless disease that knows no boundaries. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds, making it one of the world’s leading causes of death.
Annually, about 19 million new cancer cases are recorded globally, with nearly 10 million lives lost. However, with early detection, prevention, and proper care, many of these deaths can be avoided.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), early diagnosis of cancer improves chances of successful treatment. When cancer care is delayed or inaccessible, there is a lower chance of survival.
Studies have shown that survival improves when cancer is detected early, as early detection of cancer or precancerous change allows early intervention to try to slow or prevent cancer development and lethality.
Some cancer deaths are considered preventable through lifestyle changes and addressing key risk factors. Measures such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying physically active can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer.
As highlighted by Hauwa Umar’s story and the broader data on cancer survival rates and prevention strategies, when identified early, cancer is often smaller and localised, making it easier to treat with less invasive methods. This can lead to quicker recovery, fewer side effects, and a better quality of life for patients.
For instance, Hauwa’s early diagnosis through a free breast cancer screening programme enabled timely treatment that saved her life, allowing her to thrive years after. Common screening methods include mammograms for breast cancer, Pap smears for cervical cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, and PSA tests for prostate cancer.
Stories like Hauwa’s underscore the transformative impact of proactive health measures, public awareness campaigns, and accessible screening programs. These efforts empower individuals to take control of their health, increase survival rates, and improve overall well-being.
The Medical Director of Pinecrest Specialist Hospital, Dr. Omadeli Boyo, stressed the need for regular screenings, noting that early diagnosis significantly increases survival rates. With fewer than 100 oncologists in Nigeria serving over 200 million people, routine check-ups and timely treatment are critical.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urged citizens to prioritise cancer screenings. “Awareness, early detection, and treatment are essential,” she said, calling for more research and support for affected individuals.
Also, the Founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) and President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, stressed the significance of policy change and grassroots engagement in fighting cancer.
She said: “We have worked hard to promote awareness and encourage early detection. It is essential for both men and women to understand the risks and ensure regular screening.”
Cancer survivors, like Mrs. Gloria Orji, are proof that the disease is not always a death sentence. Orji emphasised that families should support and care for cancer patients rather than prepare for their burial.
She called for a change in mindset, encouraging society to give cancer patients a fighting chance to live and thrive.
Cancer is a large group of diseases, involving the abnormal multiplication and spread of cells due to genetic mutations. It can affect almost any part of the body, disrupting normal functions.
According to studies, symptoms of cancer vary but may include fatigue, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, skin changes, persistent pain, or organ-specific symptoms like blood in stool or new lumps.
The risk factors include family history of cancer, lifestyle choices (smoking, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise), environmental exposures (toxins like asbestos and pesticides), radiation (UV radiation or excessive medical radiation) and hormonal therapy.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), about one in five people develop cancer in their lifetime, approximately one in nine men and one in 12 women die from the disease.
The IARC identified three major cancer types globally in 2022: lung, breast and colorectal cancers.
Lung cancer was the most commonly occurring cancer worldwide with 2.5 million new cases accounting for 12.4 per cent of the total new cases. Female breast cancer ranked second (2.3 million cases, 11.6 Per cent), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million cases, 9.6 per cent), prostate cancer (1.5 million cases, 7.3per cent)and stomach cancer (970 000 cases, 4.9per cent).
In Nigeria, the World Health Organisation (WHO) report that cancer Kills 240 Nigerians daily, meaning 10 Nigerians die every hour from cancer. The global health body revealed that cervical cancer kills about 24 Nigerian women daily; prostate cancer kills about 26 Nigerian men daily and breast cancer kills about 40 Nigerians daily.
Meanwhile, in recognition of the need for a more coordinated and multi-sectoral response to the growing cancer burden in the country, the Federal Government established the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) to provide National leadership in Cancer Research, Treatment and Control in Nigeria.
The NICRAT Establishment Act 2017 also empowers the Institute to guide scientific improvement to cancer prevention, treatment and care; and to among others, coordinate and liaise with the wide range of groups and health care providers with interest in cancer.
The Alarming Rise in Childhood Cancer:
Childhood cancer is increasingly prevalent, with about 40,000 Nigerian children diagnosed annually.
The president of Nigeria Cancer Society and also the immediate past Acting Director, National System of Cancer History at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr. Abidemi Omonisi, highlighted the lack of focus on childhood cancer, which has been overshadowed by adult cancers like breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.
Dr. Omonisi, an oncologist and consultant pathologist, stressed that children, including newborns, can develop cancer, with leukemia being the most common type.
According to him, “Many people believe that children do not have cancer but data from registry shows that children do have cancer. We have seen that cancer does not respect the rich or the poor. A newborn baby can come down with cancer because some cancers are inherited, so children do have cancer.
“In the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) last year, during my national assignment there, we set up the first ever cancer registry for the Federal Government and during my confirming visit, we look at the data and saw that the chain has changed. It is no longer the bukilufoma that we used to have, what we see more now is leukemia (cancer of the blood).
“When I looked at their data, at their children oncology department, they have seen more than 300 cases in a year. Now duplicate that with all the teaching hospitals we have in the country.
“From what I have seen, childhood cancer is one aspect of cancer that government must pay attention to.”
Challenges in Cancer Care:
Nigeria faces major obstacles in cancer treatment, including a shortage of specialists and radiotherapy machines. The country currently has fewer than 10 functional radiotherapy machines, compared to the 300 needed to meet the demand. This 97 per cent deficit underscores the need for improved infrastructure and equitable distribution of health resources.
The high cost of treatment is another barrier. While the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) was established to make treatment more affordable, its impact remains limited. Since its inception, only 20 patients have benefited from the fund, which is still in its pilot phase.
The CHF was established through advocacy by some private institutions to the Federal Government to set up a special fund initially called catastrophy fund.
The federal government and the private sector were supposed to contribute funds to the CHF for indigent cancer patients.
However, LEADERSHIP learnt that the Federal Government alone has been contributing to the fund and has contributed about $4 million since inception.
Stakeholders continue to call on the government to address gaps in cancer care, including better access to radiotherapy, more oncologists, and increased funding.
They emphasised that early detection and regular screenings remain the most effective tools in saving lives.
