Cancer Claims 79,000 Lives with 127,000 Cases Reported in Nigeria Over Three Years

Nigeria has recorded alarming cancer statistics between 2022 and 2025, with at least 79,000 deaths and 127,000 reported cases across the country, according to the Chief Medical Director of Ekwueme Teaching Hospital. The figures underscore the growing burden of non-communicable diseases on the nation's healthcare system.

Cancer has emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality in Nigeria, surpassing many infectious diseases that have traditionally dominated public health priorities. The data from Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, a federal medical institution, reflects a national crisis requiring urgent policy attention and resource allocation.

Healthcare experts attribute the high mortality rate to several interconnected factors, including late presentation at health facilities, limited access to diagnostic services, and the prohibitive cost of treatment. Many Nigerians remain unaware of early warning signs or lack the financial means to seek timely medical intervention.

The most common cancers affecting Nigerians include breast cancer among women, prostate cancer among men, and cervical cancer, which remains a significant threat despite being largely preventable through screening and vaccination. Liver and colorectal cancers have also shown increasing incidence in recent years.

Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, located in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, serves as a referral centre for cancer patients from across the South-East geopolitical zone and beyond. The institution has been working to expand its oncology services, though resources remain insufficient relative to patient demand.

The high cost of cancer treatment presents a significant barrier for most Nigerian families. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions often cost millions of naira, far beyond the reach of average citizens who lack comprehensive health insurance coverage. Many patients abandon treatment midway due to financial constraints.

Nigeria's cancer care infrastructure remains woefully inadequate, with fewer than ten functional radiotherapy machines serving a population of over 200 million people. This shortage forces many patients to seek treatment abroad, primarily in India, Egypt, and South Africa, at even greater expense.

Public health advocates have called for increased government investment in cancer prevention and treatment programmes. They argue that allocating resources to early detection, public awareness campaigns, and treatment subsidies would save lives and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

The World Health Organisation has identified cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide, with low and middle-income countries bearing a disproportionate burden. Nigeria's experience mirrors this global pattern, with limited resources hampering effective response to the growing epidemic.

Survivors and patient advocacy groups continue to push for policy reforms, including the establishment of a national cancer fund to support indigent patients. They emphasise that cancer should be treated as a public health emergency requiring the same level of attention previously devoted to infectious disease outbreaks.

As Nigeria grapples with these sobering statistics, the need for comprehensive cancer control strategies has never been more apparent. The country's ability to reverse these trends will depend on political will, resource mobilisation, and sustained commitment to improving healthcare access for all citizens.