Nigeria is set to experience a staggering 32,000 new breast cancer diagnoses in 2025, according to the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO). This alarming statistic was revealed on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the Breast Cancer Access Navigation and Testing (BRANT) Programme, an initiative by global pharmaceutical leader Roche, in partnership with Oncopadi Technologies.
Dr. Omolola Salako, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and CEO of Oncopadi Technologies, highlighted that this would result in approximately 2,700 new cases monthly and 88 new diagnoses each day in Nigeria. She urged the audience to take a moment to reflect on the lives of the 88 women who would receive this life-altering news daily, stressing the emotional, financial, and physical toll breast cancer has on these women.
“In the first few weeks of diagnosis, women often face overwhelming fears, confusion, and anger. Beyond the emotional turmoil, the financial burden can be just as devastating,” Dr. Salako explained. “The direct cost of treatment could range between 2 to 30 million Naira—or even higher. Add to that the indirect costs, like missing work for hospital visits, and many women find themselves in an even more precarious situation.”
The BRANT Programme launch is a lifeline for many of these women. Roche and Oncopadi are working to provide support to 5,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Nigeria. The initiative is designed to make testing more accessible, offer navigation services to guide patients through their treatment journeys, and help reduce the barriers that have led to poor outcomes in the country.
Dr. Salako also highlighted Nigeria’s grim distinction as having the highest age-standardized breast cancer mortality rate in the world. She pointed to delays in treatment access, missed opportunities for life-saving interventions, and the aggressive nature of certain breast cancers—such as triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer—as key contributors to the country’s troubling survival rates.
“One study from 2014 found that Nigeria had the lowest three-year survival rate among five African countries, with only 36% survival for Nigerian women compared to 59% for Black women in South Africa,” she said, underlining the urgency of addressing these gaps in care.
Dr. Ladi Hameed, General Manager at Roche Nigeria, emphasized the transformative potential of the BRANT Programme in reshaping how breast cancer is diagnosed and treated in Nigeria. “In Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, half of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not survive beyond five years,” he said. The lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare, and financial barriers all contribute to these dire statistics.
As the BRANT Programme rolls out, the hope is to improve both early diagnosis and treatment accessibility, ultimately saving thousands of lives across Nigeria.
