A Systemic Review of Incidence of Cancer and Challenges to its Treatment 

in Nigeria

Njaka SRN*

Ebonyi State University, Nursing Science, Presco Campus Abaki Ebonyi State, Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the incidence of cancer and the challenges to its treatment in Nigeria. 

Critical and in depth review of the studies available on the condition was done with the aim of identifying the status 

of cancer in Nigeria and challenges to treatment. The basic finding was that Nigeria has been under the bondage 

of cancer with little or nothing being done by both Nigerian government and international agencies to alleviate the 

suffering. The most current data on cancer was in 2012 and revealed that newly diagnosed cases of cancer in 

Nigeria per year was at 102000 people while 71,000 died from cancers. This presented Nigeria at the fore front 

of African countries with cancer cases. Since 2012 till date no data is available on the status of cancer in Nigeria. 

The studies further revealed the challenges facing cancer care to include the following: poor health system, lack 

of human resource, lack of screening centers, cost of drug. In conclusion, cancer cases are in a pandemic level in 

Nigeria evidenced by uncountable people who died of it daily. Nigeria health system is ill equipped to withstand the 

situation coupled with her current dilapidated economic state. Further studies should be carried out in the different 

geopolitical zones as to obtain a comprehensive data on the status of cancer in Nigeria.