Nigeria: Citizens open up about their battles and hardships with cancer

Cancer's impact extends far beyond physical harm, often pushing families to the brink of financial ruin, according to survivors, with the costs of treatment frequently proving just as deadly as the disease itself.

Ariema Ogbewe's life was forever changed when she discovered a lump on her neck, an experience she recounted with the words, "I wanted to go to school, cancer had other plans."

Justina Celestine, a caregiver, poignantly observed that "treatment cost sometimes kills families before the cancer," highlighting the devastating financial burden that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Nneka Nwobbi, Founder of the Children Living With Cancer Foundation, emphasized that "early detection saves lives, yet most people see it too late," underscoring the critical importance of timely intervention in cancer treatment.

In Nigeria, cancer often presents itself quietly, with symptoms such as night pain, a small lump, or a persistent fever, and by the time the disease is diagnosed, many families are already on the precipice of financial and emotional devastation.

Mrs. Justina Celestine's daughter, Juliet, first complained of leg pain at night, which initially seemed like a minor issue, but ultimately marked the beginning of a long and arduous medical journey.

In 2023, Juliet's family sold their possessions, borrowed money from relatives, and still found themselves struggling to make ends meet, with the initial biopsy suggesting no cancer, but the pain persisting, and subsequent scans and tests ultimately confirming the diagnosis.

The family was referred to the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre for radiotherapy, with the combined costs of radiotherapy and chemotherapy reaching nearly N2 million, and additional expenses for tests, x-rays, and medication pushing the total to close to N10 million.

Juliet's treatment has shown improvement, with her leg swelling decreasing and her responding to chemotherapy, but the financial burden remains relentless, with each session and every drug taking a significant toll on the family's resources.

The first round of treatment alone cost nearly N2 million, comprising five cycles of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiotherapy, with doctors later raising the possibility of amputation, a prospect that left Justina devastated.

Juliet's story is not an isolated one, as cancer is quietly bankrupting families across Nigeria, with health experts estimating that over 70 percent of cancer care in the country is paid for out of pocket, pushing households into debt, asset sales, and job loss.

Another family member, Mrs. Elizabeth Egejimba, has also experienced the harsh reality of cancer treatment, with her son's illness beginning with a night fever and a lump on his neck, and the family initially seeking traditional remedies before eventually receiving a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Elizabeth's son underwent chemotherapy, and the family spent millions of naira on treatment, excluding tests outside the hospital, with the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan needed to confirm remission remaining unaffordable.

According to Elizabeth, each stage of chemotherapy averaged N350,000, plus the cost of drugs and scans, which the family had to purchase themselves, and the treatment was long and expensive, with the family struggling to cope with the financial and emotional burden.

Ariema Ogbewe's experience with cancer began when she was 18 years old and discovered a tiny lump on the right side of her neck, which she initially dismissed as a minor issue, but ultimately led to a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Ariema's treatment has included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, with each leaving its mark, and her family has spent close to N10 million on her care, with her mother stopping work and her father carrying the burden in silence.

Dr. Nneka Nwobbi, Founder of the Children Living With Cancer Foundation, highlighted the staggering human toll of cancer, noting that patients are often presenting very late, and the disease is advanced, making a full cure more challenging to achieve.

Access to quality cancer care in Nigeria is patchy at best, with families facing long journeys, high accommodation costs, and limited treatment options, and even basic investigations can run into millions of naira, making it unaffordable for many families.

Professor Edamisan Temiye, a pediatric haematologist and oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), emphasized that people often misunderstand what cancer is, and it is frequently misdiagnosed, leading to devastating delays in treatment.

Temiye noted that stigma and fear of cancer also remain significant barriers to timely intervention, with many people hiding their condition due to the associated shame and fear of death, infertility, or hospital procedures.

The cost of cancer treatment is a significant burden, with Temiye warning that out-of-pocket treatment is not affordable, and even diagnosing cancer can be expensive, with a PET scan costing around N1.5 million.

Temiye decried the lack of personnel and equipment in Nigeria's health system, noting that there are not enough doctors, and the few oncologists on the ground are overworked, with a severe shortage of radiotherapy centres and other essential facilities.

The lack of baseline data on cancer in Nigeria makes it challenging to understand the burden of the disease, with Temiye emphasizing the importance of early intervention and calling for government and private sector intervention to overhaul the health insurance system and finance non-communicable diseases like cancer.