CancerAware and CancersTackling in Women From Awareness to Action:

By Bem Abubakar

CancerAware is dedicated to reducing cancer incidence in Nigeria through increased awareness, promotion of prevention and early detection, and providing support to individuals affected by cancer. The organisation primarily focuses on women’s cancers, particularly breast and gynaecological cancers. Their aim is to accelerate awareness and early detection of these cancers among women, while offering support to those already dealing with the disease.

Established in 2014 and registered as a non-profit organisation in 2015, the NGO initially started as an online platform for educating individuals about breast and cervical screening. Over time, it expanded its services to include community health outreaches, screening programs, treatment assistance, and advocacy efforts. Almost a decade later, CancerAware continues to make significant strides in its mission.

The NGO is committed to going beyond raising awareness by implementing practical interventions, such as the Breast Cancer Early Detection Programme. This initiative aims to reach 25,000,000 average-risk women in Nigeria over the next decade, with the goal of reducing late-stage diagnoses and breast cancer-related deaths. It is the first free mammography program in Nigeria specifically designed for women in lowincome areas, addressing the concerning rise in advanced breast cancer cases at the time of diagnosis. Through the provision of education, awareness campaigns, and screening services in these communities, CancerAware seeks to establish a scalable model that can be replicated in various regions of Nigeria. In addition to screening, the NGO offers treatment assistance, patient navigation services, and psychological support for women battling breast cancer. Moreover, community involvement is central to CancerAware’s approach. Furthermore, CancerAware provides necessary information for cancer prevention and early detection to women. It goes beyond the basics by conducting community health outreaches that educate women on breast and cervical health, as well as provide screening interventions. Through these programs, dozens of women are armed with the knowledge and resources they need to prioritise their health.

At CancerAware, the intervention work focuses on four main areas:

1. Awareness Campaigns: Cancer is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Cancer Aware is dedicated to raising public awareness and educating the Nigerian community about cancer. Efforts specifically target breast and gynaecological cancers, emphasising the importance of prevention and early detection.

2. Screening and Early Detection: Screening and Early Detection are crucial in the effective treatment of cancer. The team is dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of early diagnosis through campaigns. Also, free medical outreaches in underserved communities nationwide are conducted while emphasising the significance of regular health check-ups for individuals.

3. Support: Women living with breast and gynaecological cancers in Nigeria receive comprehensive support, including both mental and practical assistance. They work closely with cancer specialists to combat the disease and strive towards eliminating it.

4. Policy Development Agenda: The NGO is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer and advocating for its prioritisation within the national health agenda and Cancer Aware serves as a leading voice for cancer control in Nigeria, working to promote policies that emphasise the importance of cancer screening and treatment across the country.

Over the years, the NGO has made significant impact and some of this achievement include:

1. Screening of over 10,000 women for breast and cervical cancer.

2. More than 100,000 beneficiaries have been directly educated about cancer through public and community health engagement programs.

3. 320 cancer cases have received support with free cancer treatment.

4. Social media campaigns have reached an audience of over 20 million.

5. Since 2016, Patient Support Initiative has been providing free chemotherapy drugs and other cancer treatments to indigent and low-income women receiving treatment for breast and gynaecological cancers.

6. Since 2017, the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program has been in operation, being the first free Mammography program in Nigeria specifically aimed at women in lowincome communities.

Since 2019 until now, the MobiPINK Breast Cancer Project has been actively utilising mobile technology to assist women battling metastatic breast cancer in overcoming obstacles when accessing breast cancer services and support. The project’s objectives include enhancing the quality of life of metastatic breast cancer patients through the provision of psychosocial support, as well as improving communication between patients and their medical teams to promote adherence to treatment protocols. Running from 2018 to 2023, the 14000 Reasons HPV Advocacy Campaign sought to persuade the Ministry of Health in Nigeria to incorporate HPV vaccination into the regular immunisation schedule, enabling eligible girls to receive the vaccine at no cost. The campaign successfully garnered nearly 50,000 signatures for an online petition, leading to the milestone achievement in October 2023, when a pilot phase of HPV vaccination was officially introduced into Nigeria’s immunisation program as a result of the collective efforts of various organisations and stakeholders. In 2020, the initiative produced an HPV Q&A Guide to provide valuable information on the topic.

Many women in Nigeria still face barriers that hinder their access to cancer prevention services, early detection and screening programs, cancer pain medications, and palliative care. These barriers stem from socio-economic factors like poverty and the reliance on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare. Additionally, factors such as ignorance, cultural beliefs, myths, inadequate referral systems, lack of awareness, fear of diagnosis, undertrained health workers, absence of national cancer screening programs, and insufficient diagnostic and treatment facilities contribute to the challenges faced by underserved communities. One significant issue is the absence of a National Cancer Screening program, particularly for common cancers like breast and cervical cancer. This lack of a structured screening program results in many cases being diagnosed at advanced stages, impacting treatment outcomes. Inadequate funding further exacerbates the challenges in providing comprehensive cancer care in Nigeria. However, the NGO has partnered with important stakeholders and organisations at local and international levels to create cancer prevention programs, early detection initiatives, and healthcare system strengthening interventions in low-income and underserved communities throughout Nigeria. Additionally, Cancer Aware ensures that its diverse interventions reach various demographics through platforms such as social media, community health outreaches, and digital tools.

In order for a community health intervention to be effective, it is essential to establish a foundation of trust and acceptance among community members and stakeholders. CancerAware has taken a very proactive and holistic approach to assist women in need of support and is dedicated to fostering this trust in every community it engages with. This has been instrumental to gaining support from those who will benefit.

Key partners, particularly, community health workers have played a vital role in spreading awareness about prevention and early detection strategies and have thus contributed immensely to the success of this organisation. It is indeed true, “If you wish to go far, go with others,” – something that rings true to CancerAware.

10,000

WOMEN SCREENED FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER OVER

320 Cancer cases have received support with free cancer treatment OVER

SOCIAL MEDIA REACHED

20 million AUDIENCE