• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Breast Cancer Cases In Nigeria Skyrocket By 296%

by Royal Ibeh
2 months ago
in News
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

 

Advertisement

Nigeria is grappling with a growing breast cancer crisis, as cases have surged by a staggering 296 per cent and related deaths by 223 per cent over the past three decades.

Stakeholders at the Roche Breast Cancer Summit 2025, held in Lagos on Wednesday, sounded the alarm, citing rising treatment costs, limited healthcare access, and widespread misinformation as key drivers behind the escalating epidemic.

A Professor of Surgical Oncology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Emmanuel Ezeome, in a sombre address, described breast cancer as a public health emergency. Quoting data from the British Medical Journal, Ezeome noted that breast cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa has risen by 247 percent in 30 years, with Nigeria accounting for a significant portion of that increase, adding that the country’s age-standardised breast cancer incidence rate jumped from 24.9 to 38.2 per 100,000, while mortality increased from 19.3 to 26.9 per 100,000.

This disease is not only more prevalent but also more deadly,” Ezeome said, highlighting Nigeria’s mortality-to-incidence ratio of over 51 percent, one of the highest in the world. He attributed this grim statistic to late diagnoses, limited access to effective care, and high out-of-pocket costs, which consume over 40 percent of the annual income for 90 percent of patients.

RELATED

Senator Nwokocha Elected UNIPORT Alumni Global President

Senator Nwokocha Elected UNIPORT Alumni Global President

1 hour ago
Only 5% Of Fevers In Lagos Caused By Malaria, Says Health Commissioner

Only 5% Of Fevers In Lagos Caused By Malaria, Says Health Commissioner

1 hour ago

He decried Nigeria’s inadequate radiotherapy capacity on infrastructure, with only 14 centres nationwide, of which just eight are functional. He also lamented the underutilisation of breast-conserving surgery, which could benefit up to 30 percent of patients if early diagnosis and adequate care were available.

The professor called for a unified, multi-sectoral approach to curb the crisis, stressing the need for collaboration between government, health professionals, civil society, and development partners. “Operating in silos has only worsened outcomes. We must align our efforts if we are to reduce mortality and improve survival,” he urged.

He emphasised the urgent need for broader cancer education, equitable access to care, and stronger infrastructure while recommending integrating cancer education into school curricula, expanding routine screening, and countering harmful misinformation, especially from religious and traditional institutions, through community-led awareness campaigns.

With only 10 percent of Nigerians covered by health insurance, Ezeome called for mandatory coverage for all employees and deeper public-private partnerships to create more affordable treatment models. This is necessary to boost survival rate as national survival rates remain dismal (just 25–27 percent) over five years, compared to over 80 percent in high-income countries, Ezeome averred.

Echoing these concerns, the general manager of Roche Nigeria, Dr Ladipo Hameed, described the current state of cancer care as one marked by “unmet needs” while underscoring the dire outcomes for Nigerian cancer patients, citing persistent challenges with late diagnosis and limited treatment options. “We have made significant advancements in research and drug development. But the key to saving lives lies in accurate diagnosis, personalised treatment, and guiding patients through the healthcare system,” Hameed said.

Roche recently launched the Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA), a programme aimed at transforming outcomes for African women. The initiative sets ambitious goals, including diagnosing 60 percent of cases at early stages and reducing diagnosis times from six months to just 60 days.

Hameed emphasised that focusing on breast cancer, Africa’s most common and emotive cancer, could catalyse improvements across the oncology landscape. “If we build expertise and infrastructure around breast cancer, the ripple effect will strengthen care for other cancers like colorectal and liver,” he noted.

He lauded recent government investments, including new radiotherapy equipment and the anticipated opening of three treatment centres by mid-year. “Not long ago, the country had just one or two functional radiotherapy machines. Now, we’re seeing encouraging growth,” he said. Hameed also praised financial support mechanisms like the National Cancer Health Fund (NCHF) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which aim to lessen the financial burden of cancer treatment. “Mandatory health insurance is a step in the right direction. It brings hope to millions who previously faced catastrophic out-of-pocket costs,” he added.

 

 


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

START EARNING US DOLLARS as a Nigerian ($35,000) monthly. Companies are sacking their workers due to AI (artificial intelligence), business owners are in panic mode. Only the smart will make it. Click here


Tags: Breast Cancer
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

FG Targets $74bn Agriculture Growth With New Livestock Policy

Next Post

FG Launches Capacity Building Workshop For Kano Social Workers

Royal Ibeh

Royal Ibeh

You May Like

Senator Nwokocha Elected UNIPORT Alumni Global President
News

Senator Nwokocha Elected UNIPORT Alumni Global President

2025/06/21
Only 5% Of Fevers In Lagos Caused By Malaria, Says Health Commissioner
Health

Only 5% Of Fevers In Lagos Caused By Malaria, Says Health Commissioner

2025/06/21
NDDC Partners Firm To Empower 1,000 Youths On Digital Skills
News

NDDC Partners Firm To Empower 1,000 Youths On Digital Skills

2025/06/21
Kidnappers Devise New Tactics, Abduct Popular Musician’s Daughter In Kwara
News

Police Nab 7 Suspected Criminals, Recover Firearms in Enugu

2025/06/21
Nigeria, 7 Others Get $1.96 Million Grant To Fight Fistula Disorder
News

We Have Not Abandoned Nigerians In Iran, Says Federal Gov’t

2025/06/21
Benue: SGF Akume Meets Tor Tiv, Och’Idoma Over Tinubu’s Peace Mission
News

Benue: SGF Akume Meets Tor Tiv, Och’Idoma Over Tinubu’s Peace Mission

2025/06/21
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Senator Nwokocha Elected UNIPORT Alumni Global President

Only 5% Of Fevers In Lagos Caused By Malaria, Says Health Commissioner

NDDC Partners Firm To Empower 1,000 Youths On Digital Skills

Police Nab 7 Suspected Criminals, Recover Firearms in Enugu

We Have Not Abandoned Nigerians In Iran, Says Federal Gov’t

‘You Won’t Regret Joining APC’, VP Shettima Tells Gov Eno

Benue: SGF Akume Meets Tor Tiv, Och’Idoma Over Tinubu’s Peace Mission

Prosper Nwafor’s UX Resource Incubator Guides Africa’s Next-Gen Designers

South-East People Have Reasons To Support Tinubu, Says Umahi

Federal Gov’t, AIHS Push For Local Building Materials, Affordable Housing

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.