Kunle Odunsi, the director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Centre, has warned that one in four people will develop cancer in their lifetime, raising fresh concerns over Nigeria’s weak cancer care infrastructure and the rising number of younger patients being diagnosed with the disease.
Odunsi gave the warning during a public lecture organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja, where the academy also inducted new fellows and officially opened the NAS-T.Y Danjuma Science Museum and Library to the public.
Speaking on the theme, “Redefining cancer care in the era of immunotherapy and precision oncology: Implications for research, treatment, and policy in Nigeria,” the cancer specialist said advances in medicine now mean that many cancers can be prevented, detected early, and even cured if patients have access to proper treatment.
According to him, statistics show that about one in four people will develop cancer during their lifetime, with the risk increasing as people grow older. However, he noted that doctors are now seeing more cancer cases among younger people, making genetics and early screening more important than ever.
He explained that identifying people with high genetic risk could help doctors place them under close monitoring and detect cancer before it spreads.
Odunsi said cancer should no longer be seen as a death sentence because medical science has made major progress in recent years, especially in countries with strong healthcare systems.
He noted that survival rates in the United States have improved significantly, with some cancers now recording almost 100 percent cure rates, although others remain difficult to treat.
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The don, who is also the AbbVie Foundation Distinguished Service Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Chicago, said Nigeria risks falling behind if urgent investments are not made in cancer infrastructure, drugs, and precision medicine.
He described access to cancer treatment in Nigeria as a major challenge, stressing that many patients cannot afford standard therapies because of their high cost.
According to him, Nigeria currently has only about 10 radiation therapy centres, a figure he described as grossly inadequate for a country with over 200 million people.
He said beyond chemotherapy drugs, the future of cancer treatment now lies in precision medicine, where therapies are tailored to a patient’s genetic profile.
“There are standard treatment options, which right now are very expensive, very difficult for many patients to afford. There are very little infrastructure, for example, for radiation therapies. There are only about 10 radiation therapy centres in Nigeria, rhat is insufficient for the population and size of this country.
“We need to develop infrastructure, and then we need to make sure drugs are available. Standard drugs need to be available, whether they are chemotherapy drugs. But more importantly, the field is changing very rapidly. There are new drugs. They are called precision drugs that is based on a patient’s genetic profile. So having cancer is no longer a death sentence,” he recommended.
Odunsi also highlighted the importance of regular screening and early detection for common cancers affecting men and women.
He advised women to undergo pap smear tests and annual mammography screening from the age of 40 to 45, while men should regularly screen for prostate cancer through clinical examination and blood tests.
He added that colon cancer screening through colonoscopy should begin around age 50 and be repeated every 10 years, although people with higher risks may require more frequent checks.
According to him, early detection remains one of the best ways to stop cancer from spreading and improve chances of survival.
“If we do these things, you can prevent cancer from spreading, catch it before it spreads, and therefore provide better chances of cure,” he added.
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Also speaking at the event, Abubakar Sambo, president of the Nigerian Academy of Science, said the newly opened science museum and library would help preserve Nigeria’s scientific history and encourage young Nigerians to embrace science and technology.
He said the academy had already started populating the museum with historical materials related to science and national development, adding that more exhibits would be added over time.
Sambo also charged the newly inducted fellows to uphold the academy’s mission of promoting scientific culture, research, and technology-driven development in Nigeria.
“The new fellows are supposed to abide by our own rules and regulations. That is to promote scientific culture in the highest way in Nigeria. We encourage Nigerians to go for science and technology, especially the youth, and then to advise authorities to adopt science and technology projects, especially in the education sector,” he added.
The new fellows inducted into the academy include Omotayo Arotiba, Festus Okoye, Olufunmilayo Fawole, Kemi Amodu, Emeka Oguzie, Martins Emeje, Ibrahim Abubakar and Muktar Aliyu.
