Developing National Cancer Registration in Developing Countries – Case Study of the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries

Abstract

The epidemiological transition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has given rise to a concomitant increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases including cancers. Worldwide, cancer registries have been shown to be critical for the determination of cancer burden, conduct of research, and in the planning and implementation of cancer control measures. Cancer registration though vital is often neglected in SSA owing to competing demands for resources for healthcare. We report the implementation of a system for representative nation-wide cancer registration in Nigeria – the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries (NSCR). The NSCR coordinates the activities of cancer registries in Nigeria, strengthens existing registries, establishes new registries, complies and analyses data, and makes these freely available to researchers and policy makers. We highlight the key challenges encountered in implementing this strategy and how they were overcome. This report serves as a guide for other low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) wishing to expand cancer registration coverage in their countries and highlights the training, mentoring, scientific and logistic support, and advocacy that are crucial to sustaining cancer registration programs in LMIC.

The burden of HPV associated cancers in two regions in Nigeria 2012–2014

“…We retrieved data on cancer incidence from two out of six PBCR in Nigeria, the Abuja and Enugu cancer registries for the period 2012 to 2014 because only these 2 registries submitted data to the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries (NSCR) during the period under consideration [19]. We obtained age and sex-specific estimates of new cancer cases reported for the time period under review.…”

Surgical oncology at a major referral center in Ghana: Burden, staging, and outcomes

“…In addition to quantifying the burden of surgical oncology, it is essential to monitor outcomes to identify deficits and develop benchmarks aimed at reducing the disease burden. The importance of databases in the progression of cancer care is now universally recognized, with over 25 developed registries in 20 SSA countries . In addition, the WHO has dedicated specific attention to estimating cancer incidence and mortality with GLOBOCAN, however little attention has been paid to cataloging outcomes specific to cancers amenable to surgery.…”

Carcinogenesis associated with parasites other than Schistosoma, Opisthorchis and Clonorchis: A systematic review

“…All cancers starts from a single abnormal cell that grows out of control. In addition, cancers are genetically diverse based on different exposures, DNA repair effects and cellular origin, which may suggest that a particular exposure (antigen from parasite) may originate a cascade of events to promote cancer in the susceptible host, as reported in S. haematobium . Great progress has been made in order to clarify the role of parasites in the development of cancers but a definite cause‐effect relationship has not been made from more than a few parasites as mentioned.…”

“…National registry database of cancers in lowincome countries may be a challenge due to poor access to healthcare. 32 In addition, under registration of patients with cancer is not uncommon. 33 Furthermore, cancers may take many years or decades to develop from exposure so that large prospective cohort studies may be not feasible to perform in practice.…”