Cancer Science & Therapy

Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria: Changing Trends and Clinical Phenotype

Abstract

Eromosele Oseiwe Benjamin and Irabor David Omoareghan

Background: Colorectal cancer, a disease that was once said to be rare among Nigerians and Africans, now has a rapidly growing incidence in Nigeria. In this review, factors that may be accounting for this trend are looked at, as well as the peculiarities of the disease in Nigeria. Colorectal cancer in Nigeria comes with its peculiarities such as; increasing adoption of disease risk factors such as unhealthy diets and lifestyle such as, consumption of high fat and low fiber diet, tobacco smoking and reduced physical activity and, late disease presentation. The aim of this article is to review theses changing trends and the clinical phenotype of Colorectal Cancer among Nigerians.

Methods: An electronic search of published literature was conducted via MEDLINE, PubMED and Google Scholar using a variety of search items such as ‘Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria’, ‘CRC in Nigeria’, ‘Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria’ to find related articles. Bibliographies of retrieved papers were further examined for publications of interest. Articles that reported clinically significant findings and research reports using related to Colorectal Cancer were reviewed in detail. Data on the relative frequency of cancers in Nigeria in 1960 was gotten from the Ibadan Cancer Registry, while the 2018 data was gotten from the Globocan Cancer Statistics of 2018.

Results: The results of this review shows an upward trend in the prevalence of Colorectal Cancer. Colorectal Cancer as at 1960, was the 10^th most common cancer among Nigerians men and women respectively, and the 12^th most common cancer in both sexes in Nigeria. As at 2018, Colorectal Cancer was the 2^nd most common cancer among Nigerian men, and 3^rd most common cancer among Nigerian women, and the 4^th most common cancer in both sexes in Nigeria.

Conclusion: Colorectal cancer, which was once uncommon in Nigeria, has now become the 4^th most common cancer in both men and men in Nigeria. This is a call on the government and people to take necessary action in controlling this disease through screening, prompt treatment and adoption of preventive measures such as increased dietary fiber intake.