Hospital Costs More Daunting Than Cancer – Patient Reveals

Many cancer patients in Nigeria are fighting not only against a life- threatening illness but also the staggering expenses related to their treatment.

As the country observes this year's Cancer Day alongside global recognition, investigations by Daily Trust indicate that patients are increasingly abandoning standard treatment options in favor of herbal medicines, driven by financial hardships rather than choice.

Cancer represents a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with more than 100,000 new diagnoses and approximately 70,000 fatalities each year.

Patients and Survivors Share Their Experiences

Etum Odey (not her real name), a 53-year-old mother from Otukpo in Benue State, has been battling breast cancer for nearly three years. She recalled noticing irregularities in her breast, prompting her to seek medical attention, but her financial situation forced her towards herbal alternatives.

"After being diagnosed with cancer following some breast anomalies, I initially visited hospitals. The treatment costs were simply too high, so I switched to herbal remedies," Odey explained.

Her treatment began at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi before she was referred to an oncologist at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where she received her breast cancer diagnosis.

The financial strain of treatment, according to her, has been overwhelming. "I have invested all my resources traveling among Benue, Abuja, Kaduna, and Jos seeking treatment, but to no avail. I mainly stay in Abuja now, where I am seeking traditional management for my condition," Odey stated.

Chukwueze Nnena, who survived cervical cancer, shared that the treatment costs nearly led her to abandon therapy altogether. "Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are both high-priced. There was a time I considered discontinuing treatment because it was financially unmanageable," she reminisced. Nnena was ultimately able to complete her therapy thanks to assistance from friends and a non- governmental organization.

Mary Obiabo, another cancer patient, resorted to traditional medicine, believing her illness was caused by spiritual factors. She claimed her condition was a result of witchcraft, insisting that only traditional treatments could remedy it. She lamented the daily cost of N3,000 for her herbalist to tend to her wounds, describing her suffering as intolerable as the disease deteriorated her leg.

Ronke, a 36-year-old breast cancer survivor, reflected on her diagnosis from 2021, which she initially felt was a death sentence. "I feared for my young children, wondering if I would live long enough to nurture them," she recounted. She detected a lump but hesitated to get it checked due to fear and financial worries. When she eventually sought medical help, she learned her condition had worsened significantly. Now, post-surgery and chemotherapy, she understands that early detection could have alleviated much of her anguish.

The narrative of Orikoku Peter, a prostate cancer survivor from Abuja, underscores the importance of routine health screenings. Diagnosed during a routine check-up, Peter emphasized that many patients do not show symptoms until it is too late for effective treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights cancer as a leading cause of death globally, resulting in nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, with approximately 400,000 children being diagnosed annually. The situation in Nigeria is particularly concerning, with health professionals warning that over 70% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, largely due to insufficient awareness about the disease, delayed presentations, and limited access to screening services.

Limited Access to Treatment Resources

The president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Abidemi Omonisi, spoke with Daily Trust, stating that presently, there are only around ten operational radiotherapy machines within the country. He also noted the country has under 70 clinical oncologists and fewer than 200 pathologists—numbers that starkly fail to meet global standards for cancer care.

This lack of resources has been exacerbated by a migration of healthcare workers, driven by low salaries, insecurity, and poor working conditions, significantly limiting specialized care outside major urban areas like Lagos.

A multi-billion naira International Cancer Centre, established 16 years ago in Abuja, remains dormant. Conceived by the late former First Lady Turai Yar’adua, the center was intended to serve the nation's poor. Fundraising efforts in 2009 garnered pledges of N6.8 billion, yet the project has never moved forward. A recent visit to the site showed it overrun with weeds, with only one motorcycle entering the premises; staff present indicated that it is not functional.

NICRAT Advocates for Local Clinical Trials

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) expressed optimism about conducting indigenous clinical trials and developing treatments tailored for Nigeria by 2027. During a training session in Abuja, NICRAT's Director-General, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, stressed the importance of this initiative to provide effective solutions for cancer treatment and prevention in Africa and Nigeria.

The Need for Awareness and Early Detection

Health professionals highlight that late diagnosis significantly affects survival rates in Nigeria. Dr. Samuel Otene, a radiation oncologist, pointed out that education on prevention and early detection could lower cancer cases by around 30%, urging for increased awareness and screening to lessen the demand for costly treatments.

Dr. Tajudeen Adedoyin noted that most patients are diagnosed only after the disease has advanced, substantially reducing their chances of survival. Such late-stage diagnoses contribute to the ongoing health crisis concerning cancer care in Nigeria.