Cancer is curable - Health minister

Contrary to widespread belief that cancer has no cure, the disease is curable, according to Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole.


He, however, said the disease must be detected early and treated. The minister spoke at the symposium held by his ministry themed: “Cancer in Nigeria symposium”.

It was held at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos.

Adewole said his ministry was strategising to address the rising rate of cancer in Nigeria.

According to him, the ministry will embark on aggressive behavioural change campaign.

Adewole said 30 to 50 per cent of cancers are preventable.

He lamented that most Nigerians’ attitude of “I reject it, not my portion, which ultimately leads to late reporting to hospitals, is the reason why most people are dying from the otherwise preventable and curable disease”.

He named six types of cancers that are so common in Nigeria as: breast and cervical cancers among women, prostate and colon cancers among men as well as liver and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) – common in both men and women.

“Out of the many corpses that are being brought back into the country, over 50 per cent die from cancer. Many more Nigerians are developing cancers because of change in diet and lifestyle.