Olowude, Akunyili and Oyo
The prevalence of cancer-related deaths brings to fore the need to equip the nation’s specialist hospitals, BUKOLA ADEBAYO writes
Cancer has dealt a blow to Nigeria this year. The former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Dora Akunyili; insurance guru, Mr. Remi Olowude, and the former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, are only a few of the eminent Nigerians that have reportedly fallen to this killer-disease. The list of other uncelebrated Nigerians is long.
Interestingly, there is something common about the death of these eminent Nigerians. They all died in overseas hospitals. Akunyili, 59, died in Indian hospital, while Olowude and Oyo died in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively.
That many Nigerians – especially the wealthy suffering from cancer-related illnesses – die in foreign hospitals, many stakeholders say is not surprising. The reason is that Nigeria does not have the facilities to cater to the needs of cancer patients.
Oncologists (cancer specialists) say that Nigeria also records more cancer deaths than any other developing country. According to them, while almost three out of every person diagnosed with cancer survives in developed countries, only one out of every five patients diagnosed with cancer survives in Nigeria.
For a professor at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Millicent Obajimi, the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, must therefore overhaul and equip its teaching hospitals in order to reverse the trend.
According to her, standard cancer treatment equipment, such as radiotherapy machines and CT scans, are a luxury in many of the nation’s specialist hospitals.
She says, “Cancer is no longer a foreign disease in Nigeria. It has been killing both the young and the rich before now but the awareness was low. Now is the time for the government to stand up to fight it by providing the standard cancer screening and treatment facilities in not only the specialist institutions but also in all the general hospitals.
“Radiotherapy machines, mammography machine and other diagnostic equipment are lacking and where available, in some cases, they are not functioning. I have had patients who had to travel to India or the UK just to get a scan of the breast so that we can determine their health status.
“Cancer is a disease that should be treated at home, not abroad, because you will need your family’s support emotionally, financially and psychologically in order to manage the crisis. You will need up-to-date facilities that will determine whether the treatment is working or not.”
Obajimi’s observation is not far from the truth. Findings by our correspondent show that many of the needed equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related cases are not available in the country.
For instance, besides not having a cancer care centre, no hospital in the country has yet to have the PET scan. Ghana, one of Nigeria’s neigbouring countries, has a cancer care centre.
Also decrying the inadequate health facilities, a professor of radiation medicine at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka, Enugu State, Ifeoma Okoye, notes that Nigerian cancer patients are dying not due to the pain often associated with the disease but also the lack of infrastructure for their treatment.
According to her, there are just 12 radiotherapy machines to about 160 million Nigerians, a statistics, she adds, falls short of the World Health Organisation’s recommendation.
She adds that many radiotherapy machines available are either obsolete or they do not measure up to the approved standards of treatment.
Okoye notes, “The facilities we have for cancer care in this country is like a drop in the ocean. The WHO recommends that there should be a radiotherapy machine to a million persons, but we have one radiotherapy machine to about 16 million Nigerians.”
Apart from that, she notes with a frown that even of the 12 machines, only four or five are functioning. “This is frustrating cancer management,” she declares.
Again, Okoye is not comfortable with the huge sum the country spends on medical tourism. Analysts estimate that the country loses N78bn yearly to India, Isreal, UK and the US due to medical tourism.
She states, “Many patients have to travel from state to state, country to country to get radiotherapy treatment when the machines in their domains break down, which they often do. What is the chance of a cancer patient surviving if he/she is constantly travelling from Lagos to Ibadan or from Abuja to Lagos for treatment?”
Supporting Okoye and Obajimi, the former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who says it is the time for the government to invest in cancer facilities, adds that establishing an excellent cancer centre has become imperative in the country.
Enabulele notes, “These unfortunate deaths from cancer should be a wake-up call on governments at all levels to address the rising incidence and cost of cancer in Nigeria.
“The increasing death of Nigerians in foreign hospitals on account of cancer-related ailments should be seen as a constant reminder of the need for government at all levels to massively invest in health awareness campaigns.
“The government needs to institute urgently a policy for mandatory free annual health check-up for all citizens so that cancer can be detected and treated early. It must also establish a comprehensive, world-class cancer centre for diagnosis and treatment.”
The former NMA chief also advises the Federal Government to subsidise the cost of cancer treatment in the country, saying it will reduce the death rate significantly. According to him, once the authorities do this, there will likely be a jump in survival rate and a commensurate drop in death rate.
Meanwhile, consultant oncologist and the Head of Oncology Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Prof. Remi Ajekigbe, says cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide without controland are able to invade other tissues.
Ajekigbe notes that cancer cells spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems, saying, “Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases.”
The World Health Organisation, in April this year, raised the alarm that the number of people being diagnosed with cancer globally annually has climbed to more than 14 million.
It notes that the number of cancer-related deaths has also increased from 7.6 million in 2008 to 8.2 million in 2013. According to the global body, the world is facing a crisis and all hands – including those of the government and the public – must be on deck to check this ugly trend.
Signs and symptoms of cancer
You should know some of the general signs and symptoms of cancer. But remember, having any of these does not mean that you have cancer – many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for a long time or get worse, please see a doctor to find out what’s going on.
Unexplained weight loss
Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, it’s called an unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung.
Fever
Fever is very common with cancer, but it more often happens after cancer has spread from where it started. Almost all people with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness that does not get better with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss that is not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.
Pain
Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumour. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer means it has already spread (metastasised) from where it started.
Skin changes
Along with skin cancers, some other cancers can cause skin changes that can be seen. These signs and symptoms include: Darker looking skin, yellowish skin and eyes and reddened skin.
Sores that do not heal
Skin cancers may bleed and look like sores that don’t heal. A long-lasting sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer. This should be dealt with right away, especially in people who smoke, chew tobacco, or often drink alcohol. Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs of infection or an early cancer, and should be seen by a health professional.
Source: cancer.org
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