By CHIOMA OBINNA

In recognition of the high cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria, charity organisations, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians have been enjoined to be involved in funding treatment for less privileged cancer patients so as to provide them with reprieve in managing their conditions.

Making the call in Lagos, Programme Coordinator, Sebeccly, Dr. Omolola Salako stressed the need for stakeholders to find a sustainable solution to controlling cancers irrespective of whether a patient is rich or poor.

Salako, a Paediatric Oncologist and Senior Registrar at the Department of Paediatric Oncology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said all cancer patients should have access to medical treatment.

She disclosed that no fewer than 50 cancer patients have benefited from the free cancer treatment programme sponsored by Exxon Mobil under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

• Cross section of members of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapists (NSP) during a walk to mark this year’s World Physiotherapy Day in Lagos.

Noting that cancer treatment is expensive, she said to treat breast cancer, a patient would spend N50,000 – N200,000 to remove a lump depending on where the service is done. She said if breast cancer is detected early, there is no need for mastectomy.

”We just remove the lump, but sadly, because most of our patients present at advanced stage, mastectomy might be preferable.  The next thing is to do radiotherapy, through a big x-ray machine that kills cancer cells. This costs N100,000 at LUTH.”

On chemotherapy, which is the insulation of drugs into the veins, Salako said it can be as cheap as N10,000 for one course or be as expensive as N500, 000 for another depending on what the woman presents with, the stage of the cancer and how much she can afford to expend on the treatment, she stated.

The expert said the last treatment in breast cancer is targeted therapy and the most expensive among all the treatments. It costs N500,000 and a woman might need about 12 courses if she is positive for that drug.

We have to find possible ways of getting into the villages to educate people about preventing cancers,” she said.