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A review of adult cancer cases at two tertiary hospitals in Bayelsa and Rivers States, Nigeria, offers clear insights into local disease patterns and therapeutic options. Based on records from 350 patients alongside qualitative feedback from 30 participants, the study reveals that females represented nearly two-thirds of patients, with the 60 to 69 age bracket forming the largest demographic group. Breast cancer was the most prevalent condition at over 36 per cent, followed by prostate and colon cancers. Over 43 per cent of cases were classified as Stage 1 at presentation. Chemotherapy and surgery were the principal interventions, administered to over 89 and 80 per cent of patients respectively, whereas radiotherapy was documented in roughly a quarter of cases. These findings highlight the need for improved registries and earlier palliative care integration across the region.
Understanding local patterns of cancer types, staging, and therapeutic interventions provides healthcare administrators and policy makers with essential baseline data. This evidence assists regional tertiary facilities in identifying major treatment gaps, particularly concerning access to radiotherapy and palliative care, while guiding better resource allocation and oncological service planning across southern Nigeria.
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Background: Facility-based evidence on cancer patterns and treatment profiles is important for planning oncology services in Nigeria. This study described cancer types, disease stage, and treatment modalities among adults managed in two tertiary hospitals in Bayelsa and Rivers States. Methods: A hospital-based descriptive mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were extracted from 350 patient folders, while 30 patients participated in qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise socio-demographic characteristics, cancer types, year of diagnosis, disease stage, and treatment received. Results: Most records were from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (59.4%), and females constituted 64.0% of the sample. The largest age group was 60–69 years (33.4%). Breast cancer was the most frequently recorded diagnosis (36.3%), followed by prostate cancer (14.9%) and colon cancer (7.7%). Most patients were diagnosed between 2019 and 2022 (66.3%). Stage 1 disease accounted for 43.4%, while Stages 2 and 3 accounted for 30.9% and 23.4%, respectively. Chemotherapy was the most frequently recorded treatment (89.1%), followed by surgery (80.6%), physiotherapy (61.4%), psychotherapy (56.0%), palliative care (32.3%), and radiotherapy (25.4%). Conclusion: The findings describe a facility burden dominated by breast and prostate cancers and a treatment profile centred on chemotherapy and surgery. Strengthening cancer registries, multidisciplinary care, and earlier integration of palliative care may improve oncology service planning in the two states.
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DOI: 10.9734/aorj/2026/v9i1144
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