Pattern of Cancer and Treatment Modalities among Adult Cancer Patients in Tertiary Hospitals of Bayelsa and Rivers States, Nigeria
Tariebi Katherine Owei-Tongu
*
Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi-Ogbia, School of Community Health Science, Nigeria.
Ebiowei John
Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi-Ogbia, School of Community Health Science, Nigeria.
Happiness Biobelene Amakiri
Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi-Ogbia, School of Community Health Science, Nigeria.
Ogbonna Nnenna Salomey
Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Marie Therese Teibowei
Institute of Foreign Languages and Biomedical Translation, Bayelsa Medical University, Bayelsa, Nigeria.
Zar, Vershima Daniel
Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Etim Clement
Department of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt School of Public Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Georgeline Nliam-Giesen
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
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.
Keywords: Cancer, treatment pattern, chemotherapy, surgery, palliative care, tertiary hospitals