A new data released by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition has revealed that Nigeria loses about $218 million yearly through $132.7 million in socioeconomic costs of ovarian cancer every year and over $85 million in healthcare expenditures.
The study, led by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition on Socioeconomic Burden of Ovarian Cancer in 11 Countries, published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology JCO Global Oncology, showed that nearly one-third of the burden of ovarian cancer in Nigeria leads to the loss of life.
Ovarian cancer is ranked among the most aggressive tumours with the lowest survival probability. Projections are that ovarian cancer will claim more than eight million lives between 2022 and 2050 without better prevention or control measures.
Early detection of ovarian cancer has never been more important. This year, an expected 22,430 women in the United States will be diagnosed with the disease, and it will claim the lives of over 15,000 more in Nigeria where there is a poor registry.
According to the study, if diagnosed early, nine out of ten women can survive beyond five years and possibly beat the disease, but not enough women are detecting it on time as only 19 per cent of cases are detected before the cancer spreads outside the ovary.
The study further revealed that more than seven out of ten women are not diagnosed until the disease has already progressed to advanced or later stages, and fewer than half of all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live five years after the diagnosis.
According to the report, yearly, ovarian cancer causes over $85 million in healthcare expenditures. On average, during the first two years post-diagnosis, health services cost about $17,186 (yearly), which is 204.6 times the total healthcare spending per capita in Nigeria.
The report read, “Productivity losses total $2 million each year, with over 152,000 workdays lost and 571 women missing from the workforce yearly, family caregiving costs $2.5 million yearly, with over six million hours devoted to women living with ovarian cancer.”
An Oncologist with the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr Tessy Ahmadu told The Guardian that ovarian cancer is one of the top five gynecological cancers affecting the female reproductive organs, which is underreported.
According to her, cervical cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer in Nigeria after cervical cancer. “It is less common than cervical cancer, but it ranks second among the gynecological cancers, about five to six hundred thousand women.”
Ahmadu observed that the common age group affected by the disease is mostly perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. “That’s women almost going into menopause or after menopause, that is between the ages of 45 and 65 years but you can get it earlier.”
She highlighted the risk factors informed by family history or genetic predispositions, as well as modifiable risk factors like smoking, alcohol intake, exposure to radiation, overweight, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.
“When you have a family history, especially when it comes to ovarian cancer, you are of a higher risk compared to someone who does not have that family history. We also have genetic mutations. Some genetic mutations predispose humans to ovarian cancer.”
She noted Nigeria has gynecologists that are specialised in gynecological cancers, as well as medical and clinical oncologists that specialise in chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, adding the major challenge being faced by cancer patients is finance.
“There is no cheap treatment for cancer. One of the biggest barriers to cancer treatment is the high cost, and more than 90 per cent of the patients pay out of pocket for the cost of the surgery, and treatment. It is expensive and patients will need support.”
Ahmadu explained that the reason for late diagnosis is because of a lack of effective screening tools for ovarian cancer as the Cancer Health Fund does not cover ovarian cancer, but covers breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, and childhood cancer.
She urged women to be conscious of their health and visit the hospital when they have symptoms that they do not understand, like abdominal pain, abdominal swelling or dyspnea among others.
A Consultant/ Oncology pharmacist at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Ramatu Mas’ud Alabelewe, said that cancers can be managed through chemotherapy or immunotherapy and through endocrine therapy, which entails using some hormonal agents.
Alabelewe lamented that many Nigerians pay out of pocket for their health services, stressing that the Federal Governments has put in place the Chemotherapy Access Programme (CAP), an initiative, supported by public-private partnerships, designed to improve access to quality chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe, called on the government and the policymakers to expand the Cancer Health Fund to cover ovarian cancer.
