Amid high fatality rate of cancer in Nigeria, the centre manager and clinical pathologist at Bola Tinubu Health and Diagnostic Centre (BTHDC), Dr Wale Olusanya, has stressed the need for more laboratories equipped with modern and effective cancer diagnostic equipment to tackle the scourge in the country.
Available statistics data from the Global Cancer Observatory show that cancer is a major health problem in Nigeria causing an estimated 78,899 deaths in 2020 and about 124,815 new cases diagnosed by medical doctors every year.
Olusanya in a statement on Monday said that accurate data from cancer screening can help doctors detect the malignant cells before they spread to other parts of the body and become terminal.
He added that screening tests can reveal a significant abnormality in different body organs and help in monitoring the progression of cancerous cells for proper patient management.
The pathologist explained that a combination of imaging tests such as CT Scans, Ultrasounds and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can help in the early detection of tumors, inflammation, and other signs of cancer, especially in patients that are at a high risk.
Laboratory screening tests with the appropriate devices offer reliable results for prompt diagnoses, saving lives and reducing patient length of stay in hospitals, the pathologist averred.
“Cancer treatment is more effective in the early stages of the disease. This is the reason why we need to bridge the gap in cancer screening by establishing more laboratories that have modern equipment. We have the expertise and relevant diagnostic tools that use modern technology in disease screening. This aligns with our mission of enhancing patient care and safety,” he said.
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