Colon cancer is very common (1 in 20 people) and is easily preventable. It is the 4th most common cancer in Nigeria with a mean age of incidence of 41 years. In the United States, implementation of routine Colorectal Cancer screening among individuals 50 years of age and above has led to reductions in the absolute number of patients with Colorectal Cancer.
The Nigerian National Cancer Strategy (2018 to 2022) has identified Colorectal screening as a priority and endorses the establishment of a national screening program. However, in Nigeria, even basic knowledge about Colorectal Cancer (i.e., symptoms) and the role screening plays in early diagnosis remains poor. The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer endorses targeting high-risk populations in Nigeria.
Since Nigeria is a largely low resource environment, it is not feasible to use Colonoscopy (which is the gold standard screening modality in the United States) as the screening test for every Nigerian. The GI Working Group in ANPA is advocating the use of second generation FIT Testing Kits as the first screening tool for every Nigerian age 40 and over (according to the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) guidelines).
Those who test positive for this test, which can detect as low as 5 microliters of blood-heme protein in the stool sample, will be scheduled to undergo a colonoscopy. ANPA is excited about using this protocol to perform a population-based screening exercise at our upcoming Medical Mission in Abia State this coming April. This year’s ANPA Medical Mission is scheduled to hold in Umuahia, Abia State from 5th April to 14th April 2024. We expect to screen over 1,000 patients in partnership with the Abia State Government.
Lanre Y. Jimoh, MD
Member, ANPA Board of Directors