Pattern of Cancers at a Rural Referral Centre in North-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cancers have wide regional, urban/rural variations in reported prevalence. Objectives: To determine the baseline pattern of cancers in the first 5 years from Hospital-based records of cancer cases at Federal medical centre Nguru, Northeast Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective review of all histologically confirmed cancer cases managed at a rural referral tertiary health facility in Northeast Nigeria for the period 1st January, 2009 to 31st December, 2013 was undertaken. Results: Of the 237 histological specimens during the period under review, 165 (69.6%) were cancers. Female cancers (n=101; 61%) were more than male cancers (n=64; 39%) and the mean age (±SD) for all cancers was 48.1(±18.7) years. The mean age for cancer was lower in females (Student t-test 5.103, P < 0.001). The mean ages for the 3 commonest cancers in this centre were; 45.1 ± 15.2 years for breast; 49±10.9 years for cancer of the cervix and 67.4±7.6 years for prostate cancer. The commonest cancer sites were in the female and male genital tracts. However, review of individual cancers showed that breast cancer was the commonest (n=31; 18.8%) followed by prostate cancer (n=29; 17.6%). The 3rd commonest cancer was that of the cervix which constituted 11.5% (n=19). Skin (excluding melanoma), gastrointestinal, head and neck and melanoma constituted 8.0%, 6.6%, 6.0% and 4.2% respectively. Only 1 case of childhood cancer (endodermal sinus tumour) was seen in an 18 months old child while cancers in teenage age group (1319 years) constituted 3% (n=5); there were 2 squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, 1 each for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, osteosarcoma and a retinoblastoma. Conclusion: The pattern of cancers in this rural population is similar to findings in other parts of the country. Women have the highest burden but a lower mean age of cancers in this study. Breast, prostate and cervical cancers were the 3 commonest cancers constituting 48% of the cancer burden. There is the need for strategic preventive measures, including the establishment of an oncology unit, to reduce the burden of cancers in this community.