In the city of Ile‑Ife, southwestern Nigeria, three patients who thought they had simple stomach problems were later diagnosed with colorectal cancer. All three required major surgery and months of chemotherapy. Their stories illustrate a growing crisis: colorectal cancer, once thought rare in sub‑Saharan Africa, is now appearing weekly at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) teaching hospital.
Why early detection matters
Dr. Olusegun Alatise, a professor of surgery at OAU, says most Nigerians seek care only after the disease has spread. “Patients often have rectal bleeding for a year, but they are treated with other medicines,” he explained. In the United States and western Europe, two‑thirds of colorectal‑cancer patients survive at least five years; in Nigeria, the survival rate is only one‑in‑five.
Building a research network
Alatise’s experience in a 2009 training program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center sparked a partnership with Dr. Peter Kingham, an American surgical oncologist. Together they founded the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) in 2013 to train African surgeons and conduct research. Today ARGO operates at more than two dozen sites in Nigeria, employs over 60 staff, and has enrolled nearly 10,000 patients in research studies, supported by several U.S. National Institutes of Health grants.
Screening pilots show promise
In 2014, ARGO launched a pilot offering free colonoscopies to 362 patients with rectal bleeding. Nearly 20% were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 74% of those cases were caught at a potentially curable stage—double the historical rate. The study also found that rectal bleeding combined with weight loss and altered bowel habits is a strong indicator of cancer, helping clinicians prioritize limited resources.
Community outreach saves lives
To reach people who might ignore warning signs, ARGO aired radio jingles and distributed flyers throughout Ile‑Ife, emphasizing the symptom combination of bleeding and weight loss. Local clinics were trained to recognize these signs and refer patients quickly for colonoscopy. The effort resulted in more than 300 referrals, identifying four early‑stage cancers and 13 high‑risk polyps that were removed before becoming malignant.
Challenges remain
Despite the success, many Nigerians still avoid medical care due to fear, religious beliefs, transportation barriers, or reliance on herbal remedies. Cost is also a major obstacle: a colonoscopy costs roughly half the average monthly income in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the pilot demonstrates that targeted messaging and free screening can dramatically improve outcomes.
Alatise hopes the model will expand nationwide, giving more Nigerians a chance to survive a disease that once seemed inevitable.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
