Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Oct;36(5):e271-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2012.04.007. Epub 2012 May 22.

Cancer incidence in Nigeria: a report from population-based cancer registries

Elima Jedy-Agba  1 , Maria Paula Curado, Olufemi Ogunbiyi, Emmanuel Oga, Toyin Fabowale, Festus Igbinoba, Gloria Osubor, Theresa Otu, Henry Kumai, Alice Koechlin, Patience Osinubi, Patrick Dakum, William Blattner, Clement A Adebamowo
Affiliations

Cancer incidence in Nigeria: a report from population-based cancer registries

Elima Jedy-Agba et al. Cancer Epidemiol. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer has become a major source of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the threat that cancer poses to public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), few countries in this region have data on cancer incidence. In this paper, we present estimates of cancer incidence in Nigeria based on data from 2 population-based cancer registries (PBCR) that are part of the Nigerian national cancer registry program.

Materials and methods: We analyzed data from 2 population based cancer registries in Nigeria, the Ibadan Population Based Cancer Registry (IBCR) and the Abuja Population Based Cancer Registry (ABCR) covering a 2 year period 2009-2010. Data are reported by registry, gender and in age groups. We present data on the age specific incidence rates of all invasive cancers and report age standardized rates of the most common cancers stratified by gender in both registries.

Results: The age standardized incidence rate for all invasive cancers from the IBCR was 66.4 per 100000 men and 130.6 per 100000 women. In ABCR it was 58.3 per 100000 for men and 138.6 per 100000 for women. A total of 3393 cancer cases were reported by the IBCR. Of these cases, 34% (1155) were seen among males and 66% (2238) in females. In Abuja over the same period, 1128 invasive cancers were reported. 33.6% (389) of these cases were in males and 66.4% (768) in females. Mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in men for Ibadan and Abuja were 51.1 and 49.9 years respectively. For women, mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in Ibadan and Abuja were 49.1 and 45.4 respectively. Breast and cervical cancer were the commonest cancers among women and prostate cancer the most common among men. Breast cancer age standardized incidence rate (ASR) at the IBCR was 52.0 per 100000 in IBCR and 64.6 per 100000 in ABCR. Cervical cancer ASR at the IBCR was 36.0 per 100000 and 30.3 per 100000 at the ABCR. The observed differences in incidence rates of breast, cervical and prostate cancer between Ibadan and Abuja, were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Cancer incidence data from two population based cancer registries in Nigeria suggests substantial increase in incidence of breast cancer in recent times. This paper highlights the need for high quality regional cancer registries in Nigeria and other SSA countries.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a) Map of Africa showing Nigeria b) Map of Nigeria showing Ibadan and Abuja
Figure 2
Figure 2
Population pyramids of Ibadan and Abuja
Figure 3
Figure 3
Most common basis of diagnosis in Ibadan and Abuja cancer registries
Figure 4
Figure 4
Age standardized rates for all cancers in men and women including and excluding NMSC for the period 2008–2010 in ABCR and IBCR.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Age Specific Incidence Rates for Breast, Cervix and Prostate Cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sylla BS, Wild CP. A million africans a year dying from cancer by 2030: What can cancer research and control offer to the continent? Int J Cancer. 2011 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN 2008. Int J Cancer. 2010;127:2893–2917. - PubMed
    1. Boyle P, Levin B. International Agency for Research on Cancer. World Cancer Report 2008; Lyon, France. 2008.2008.
    1. Lyerly HK, Abernethy AP, Stockler MR, Koczwara B, Aziz Z, Nair R, Seymour L. Need for Global Partnership in Cancer Care: Perceptions of Cancer Care Researchers Attending the 2010 Australia and Asia Pacific Clinical Oncology Research Development Workshop. J Oncol Pract. 2011;7:324–329. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Curado MP, Edwards B, Storm H, Ferlay J, Heanue M, Boyle P, editors. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents. [accessed 18th October 2011];IARC Scientific Publications No 160. 2008 IX http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/epi/sp160/CI5vol9-A.pdf.

Publication types

MeSH terms