Cancer Registration in Resource-limited Environments—Experience in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract Background Cancer registration provides data that can be utilized to study the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer registration is still underdeveloped in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is the case in Lagos, Nigeria. Lakeshore Cancer Center (LCC) sought to retrospectively collect and describe the characteristics of the patients seen in its first 2 y of existence. Methods A retrospective review of patient records presenting at LCC was performed. Various parameters were collected such as demographics and diagnoses. These data were used to perform a simple descriptive analysis. A series of consultations determined what parameters to include in the registry. CanReg, a cancer registration application, was customized to include these parameters. Results Between July 2014 and June 2016, a total of 226 cancer incidence cases were presented at LCC. There was an increasing number of new cancer cases when evaluated at 6-mo intervals. The most common cancers presented were breast (38%), prostate (12%), and colorectal (8%) cancers. The majority of patients (85%) were presented at later cancer stages. Conclusions Breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers were the three most common cancer cases seen at LCC. Late-stage presentation remains a challenge. These results reveal the need for early detection and screening methods to help change the stage distribution. The cancer registry will be utilized to collect cancer data and to allow for analysis and better treatment/prevention protocols. Collaboration with other academic centers in the region will facilitate the establishment of a population-based registry.