🎗️ Men's Health

Breast Cancer Screening in Nigeria

Early detection that saves lives — what every Nigerian woman must know

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Nigerian women, with an estimated 27,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths annually — one of Africa's highest mortality rates. Nigerian women tend to present with advanced (stage III-IV) disease because awareness is low, stigma prevents discussion, and screening is almost non-existent outside major cities. Yet early-stage breast cancer has an 80-90% survival rate. Breast self-examination, clinical examination, and mammography are the tools that save lives.

Signs and Symptoms

✓ A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit

✓ Change in breast size, shape, or appearance

✓ Skin changes: dimpling, puckering (like orange peel — peau d'orange), redness

✓ Nipple changes: inversion of a previously normal nipple, discharge (especially bloody)

✓ Breast pain that is new and persistent (though most breast pain is not cancer)

✓ Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit

✓ Advanced disease: skin ulceration, fixed hard lump, arm swelling

Risk Factors

Female sex and age: risk increases significantly over 40
Family history: BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations; first-degree relative with breast cancer
Early menstruation (before age 12) or late menopause (after age 55)
No or late first pregnancy; not breastfeeding
Oral contraceptive use and hormone replacement therapy
Obesity after menopause
Alcohol consumption
Triple-negative breast cancer: more common and more aggressive in Nigerian and African-American women

When to Seek Help

See a doctor — within 2 weeksAny new breast lump, skin change, nipple discharge, or change in breast appearance; do not wait and watch; most breast lumps are benign but only examination and imaging can determine this

Monthly self-examinationAll women should perform monthly breast self-examination from age 20; best done 7-10 days after the start of period; know what is normal for your breasts so changes are noticed

Annual clinical breast examinationAnnual breast examination by a health professional from age 40; earlier if high risk

Tests & Diagnosis

🧪 Breast self-examination (BSE)

Monthly self-examination of breasts and armpits; free and effective for early detection of new lumps or changes

🧪 Clinical breast examination (CBE)

Physical examination by a trained health worker — should be offered at all health facilities; costs nothing

🧪 Ultrasound breast

First-line imaging in Nigeria for women under 40 and for evaluating lumps found on examination; widely available at private hospitals; effective for distinguishing solid from cystic lumps

🧪 Mammography

X-ray of the breast; more sensitive than ultrasound for detecting non-palpable cancers; recommended from age 40-50; available at teaching hospitals and private radiology centres in Lagos and Abuja

🧪 Core needle biopsy

Definitive diagnosis — guided needle biopsy of a suspicious lump; histopathology confirms cancer and provides receptor status (ER, PR, HER2) guiding treatment

Treatment Options

Surgery

Lumpectomy (removal of lump only — requires radiotherapy) or mastectomy (removal of the whole breast); sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary clearance; reconstructive surgery available at some Nigerian centres

Chemotherapy

Systemic treatment for breast cancer — reduces recurrence and treats spread; available at oncology departments of teaching hospitals; AC-T, CMF, and other regimens used in Nigeria

Radiotherapy

Required after lumpectomy; adjuvant after mastectomy for high-risk disease; limited linear accelerator availability in Nigeria is a significant treatment bottleneck

Hormonal therapy

Tamoxifen (for ER-positive breast cancer) — 5-10 years of daily tablets; dramatically reduces recurrence; cheap and widely available in Nigeria

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)

For HER2-positive breast cancer; very effective but expensive; limited availability in Nigeria; some subsidised access through pharmaceutical programmes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a breast lump always cancer?

No — most breast lumps in Nigerian women are benign: fibroadenomas (common in young women), cysts, lipomas, or lymph nodes. However, every new lump must be evaluated by a doctor. Do not assume it is benign and self-treat.

Should Nigerian women have mammograms?

Yes — mammography is recommended from age 40-50 for average-risk women and earlier for high-risk women. Access is limited in Nigeria but available in major cities. Breast ultrasound is more widely available and is an appropriate alternative for younger women.

Can men get breast cancer?

Yes — male breast cancer is rare (about 1% of all breast cancer) but does occur. Any man with a breast lump should seek medical evaluation.

Where can breast cancer be treated in Nigeria?

Major treatment centres include LUTH, UCH Ibadan, UNTH Enugu, ABU Teaching Hospital Zaria, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and several private cancer centres in Lagos and Abuja. Some states have no radiotherapy services, requiring patients to travel.

Is breast cancer hereditary?

About 5-10% of breast cancer is hereditary, mainly from BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Women with multiple affected first-degree relatives or early-onset cancer in the family should consider genetic counselling. BRCA testing is available at some Nigerian molecular laboratories.