Posted on: Tue 08-04-2025

 

Lung cancer is silently and tragically killing thousands of Nigerians every year. But must it continue this way?

Recent investigations have highlighted a disturbing truth: many Nigerians battling lung cancer are being failed by the healthcare system long before they even know they are sick. From misdiagnoses and delays to lack of diagnostic tools, expertise, and treatment options, the system is riddled with gaps that urgently need closing.

So, what if we asked the real question: what can and should be done now to stop this silent epidemic?

Misdiagnosis is Costing Lives Can We Fix That?

For far too many, like the late Mrs. Onama Ladi, lung cancer goes unnoticed until it's too late. Despite her diligence in seeking care, she was misdiagnosed with tuberculosis for over a year. By the time lung cancer was detected, she was already at death’s door.

How many more lives will be lost because symptoms like a persistent cough or chest pain are dismissed as “just another case of TB or asthma”?

The overlap in symptoms between lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases like TB, COPD, and pneumonia is a real challenge. But isn’t that even more reason to increase physician training, equip clinics with better diagnostic tools, and build a system of referral that actually works?

Are We Relying Too Heavily on Luck?

Julius Akinyemi’s story is a rare glimpse of hope—but even his case hinged on perseverance, financial privilege, and luck. Misdiagnosed repeatedly, he only found answers after spending over N5 million and finally meeting the right specialist.

This shouldn't be the norm. Should patients need multiple hospitals, millions of naira, or a chance trip abroad just to get a correct diagnosis?

Surely, we can envision a healthcare system where a person walks into a well-equipped primary care center and is swiftly referred for early testing and specialist care, regardless of their income or location.

Where Are the Experts and Why Are They So Hard to Find?

Nigeria has trained chest surgeons and pulmonologists, but according to health experts, the “super-specialized” professionals pathologists, molecular scientists, oncologists are in short supply.

And the few who are available? Overstretched, under-resourced, or leaving the country due to the “JAPA syndrome.”

What if the government funded specialized lung cancer training programs, retained experts through incentives, and created regional lung cancer centers of excellence equipped with everything from diagnostic imaging to radiotherapy?

Why Is Lung Cancer Left Out of Our National Cancer Conversation?

Lung cancer remains underprioritized, even though it ranks among the top five cancer killers in Nigeria. Why isn’t it given the same attention as breast, prostate, or cervical cancer?

Shouldn't the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) start treating lung cancer as the urgent public health crisis it is?

There’s a need to dispel myths that only smokers get lung cancer. Many Nigerians, including non-smokers, are falling victim to radon gas, asbestos exposure, and even genetic factors.

Isn’t it time we launched a nationwide lung cancer awareness campaign—one that challenges stigma, informs the public, and encourages early screening?

What Can Be Done And What Must Be Done Now?

Prof. Kelechi Okonta’s call for dedicated lung cancer clinics, registries, and multidisciplinary teams is not only valid it’s overdue.

• Can we set up subsidized diagnostic centers across zones?
• Could the government fund routine CT scans and biopsies in tertiary hospitals?
• What about introducing mobile screening units to rural areas?
• Could health policies enforce timely referrals for persistent pulmonary symptoms?
• None of these are impossible if we prioritize lung cancer the way we should.

The Final Question: How Many More Must Die Before We Act?

If Nigeria is serious about reducing preventable deaths, lung cancer must become part of our national conversation. And not tomorrow today.

We need awareness. We need early screening. We need specialist care. But most of all, we need to stop looking away.

Lung cancer is not just a medical issue. It's a system failure. And until we ask the hard questions and act on them we’ll keep losing lives in silence.

Isn’t it time we listened? 

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