Cancer is assuming epidemic proportions in Nigeria - Professor Aderemi Ajekigbe

Professor Aderemi Ajekigbe, Head of Oncology and Radiology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has called for measures to stem the increasing rate of cancer in Nigeria. According to him, the disease is assuming epidemic proportions in Africa's largest country.

He stated that the condition is ravaging Nigeria and every Nigerian knows at least a cancer patient.

"Cancer is currently ravaging the country.  There is nobody who doesn’t know somebody who has either died from cancer or is suffering from cancer. Cancer is assuming epidemic proportions in Nigeria," Ajekigbe told Vanguard.

According to him, Nigeria currently has more than 2 million people suffering from cancer and about 100,000 new cases are recorded annually.

He said: "Currently, there are not less than two million people suffering from cancer and not less than 100,000 new cases every year.   Of the 100,000 new cases, only few have access to treatment because there are just three functional cancer centres and treatment is very expensive.

"Here in LUTH, we see an average of 15-20 cases daily and up to 75 percent of the cases are presented very late – stages III and IV. Of the new cases, nine will be breast cancer in women. Breast cancer is still the leading cancer in Nigeria.

"Cancer may be a very bad disease, but it is curable if the patient presents early. Where these patients normally first go to is what we do not understand, and this is what we often tell our churches and mosques not to continue deceiving the people that they can do this or do that about the condition."