Pattern of Cancer and Treatment Modalities among Adult Cancer Patients in Tertiary Hospitals of Bayelsa and Rivers States, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Facility-based evidence on cancer patterns and treatment profiles is important for planning oncology services in Nigeria. This study described cancer types, disease stage, and treatment modalities among adults managed in two tertiary hospitals in Bayelsa and Rivers States. Methods: A hospital-based descriptive mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were extracted from 350 patient folders, while 30 patients participated in qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise socio-demographic characteristics, cancer types, year of diagnosis, disease stage, and treatment received. Results: Most records were from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (59.4%), and females constituted 64.0% of the sample. The largest age group was 60–69 years (33.4%). Breast cancer was the most frequently recorded diagnosis (36.3%), followed by prostate cancer (14.9%) and colon cancer (7.7%). Most patients were diagnosed between 2019 and 2022 (66.3%). Stage 1 disease accounted for 43.4%, while Stages 2 and 3 accounted for 30.9% and 23.4%, respectively. Chemotherapy was the most frequently recorded treatment (89.1%), followed by surgery (80.6%), physiotherapy (61.4%), psychotherapy (56.0%), palliative care (32.3%), and radiotherapy (25.4%). Conclusion: The findings describe a facility burden dominated by breast and prostate cancers and a treatment profile centred on chemotherapy and surgery. Strengthening cancer registries, multidisciplinary care, and earlier integration of palliative care may improve oncology service planning in the two states.