• To harness AI, digital tools to strengthen cancer control • WCRF raises concern over cancer rise among younger adults

Federal Government has announced that it is expanding Nigeria’s cancer-treatment capacity with plans to procure 35 linear accelerators over the next three years and establish six cancer centres of excellence to improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 International Cancer Week, organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).

Salako said three cancer centres of excellence had already been constructed and commissioned, while another three were under construction, as part of measures to strengthen the country’s capacity to manage the growing cancer burden.

He said the government was also advancing cancer care through the NSIA-Medserve Cancer Centres, the construction of the NICRAT headquarters and the introduction of immunohistochemistry services under the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme, supported by Roche.

Also, the Federal Government has said it would continue to harness digitalisation, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine and data analytics to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The week has the theme: “United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum.”

Salako said the government was also strengthening cancer registries and using data analytics to improve cancer control, while ensuring that emerging technologies addressed gaps in access to specialist services and clinical decision-making.

He, however, said innovations being introduced into cancer care must be affordable, appropriate, scalable and sustainable to deliver meaningful outcomes within Nigeria’s health system.

MEANWHILE, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has raised concern over a rise in early cancers among younger adults. It said its analysis of NHS data found increases in several cancer types among people aged under 50 in England.

The charity compared cancer diagnosis rates among people under 50 in 2001 and 2023, finding increases in prostate, kidney, womb, liver, pancreatic, breast and bowel cancers during the period.

According to the WCRF, the rate of prostate cancer among men under 50 rose from the equivalent of one case per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.6 cases per 100,000 in 2023.

Among women under 50, womb cancer diagnoses increased from 1.8 cases per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.9 per 100,000 in 2023, while breast cancer rose from 42 cases per 100,000 to 47.5 per 100,000 over the same period.

The charity also reported a rise in bowel cancer among adults under 50, from 3.9 cases per 100,000 in 2001 to 8.4 per 100,000 in 2023.

Kidney cancer rates increased from 1.5 cases per 100,000 in 2001 to three per 100,000 in 2023, while liver cancer rose from 0.5 to 0.8 cases per 100,000.

Similarly, early cases of pancreatic cancer increased from 0.8 cases per 100,000 in 2001 to one per 100,000 in 2023.