FG URGES NIGERIANS TO PRIORITISE EARLY CANCER DETECTION FOR BETTER OUTCOMES

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to take cancer screening and early diagnosis seriously, stressing that detecting the disease before it spreads significantly improves the chances of successful treatment.

The National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Plan under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Uchechukwu Nwokwu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Nwokwu explained that cancer is not a single disease but a broad group of diseases that can affect different organs and behave differently depending on the type of cancer and the characteristics of the cells involved.

He explained that cancer is generally classified into four stages based on how far the disease has progressed from the location where it first developed.

According to him, Stage One cancer remains within the area where it originated and has not spread to other parts of the affected organ or body. At this stage, some cancers may be successfully treated through surgery alone.

He said Stage Two occurs when the cancer has moved beyond its initial area but remains within the affected organ. Depending on the type and characteristics of the cancer, surgery may still play a major role in treatment.

Nwokwu explained that Stage Three involves cancer spreading beyond the affected organ but remaining within the same body system or surrounding region. At this stage, patients may require a combination of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Stage Four, he said, is the most advanced stage and occurs when cancer spreads from the original organ to distant parts of the body. This process is known as metastasis and can make treatment considerably more complicated.

Using breast cancer as an example, the coordinator explained that the disease can spread to areas such as the brain, bones, liver or lungs. Even when a tumour is found in one of those locations, tests can establish that it originated from the breast.

He noted that treatment options become more complex when cancer has reached an advanced stage because doctors may have to address the disease in multiple parts of the body.

Nwokwu said chemotherapy may be useful in treating some advanced cancers because it is a systemic treatment capable of reaching cancer cells in different parts of the body. Radiotherapy, however, has to be applied more selectively depending on where the cancer has spread and the patient's overall condition.

He also highlighted the use of targeted treatments for cancers driven by particular hormones or biological mechanisms, noting that treatment decisions depend on the specific characteristics of each patient's disease.

The Federal Government official stressed that the different treatment approaches required at various stages demonstrate why early detection remains critical.

He explained that early diagnosis enables doctors to determine the stage of the disease and select the most appropriate treatment strategy before the cancer has spread extensively.

Nwokwu further emphasised that cancer treatment must be individualised because cancers affecting the same organ can behave differently depending on their biological characteristics.

He therefore encouraged Nigerians to seek medical attention promptly whenever they notice unusual symptoms and to follow appropriate screening and diagnostic recommendations.

The government said greater awareness, timely medical attention and early diagnosis remain important components of efforts to reduce the impact of cancer and improve treatment outcomes in Nigeria.

Nwokwu's advice comes amid continuing efforts by health authorities to encourage Nigerians to take preventive healthcare and cancer screening more seriously, particularly because detecting the disease at an earlier stage can provide patients with more treatment options.