The Chief Executive Officer of the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC), Dr. Nafisa Abdu, has urged Nigerians to seek prompt medical attention for suspicious lumps, unexplained swelling and persistent bone pain, stressing that early diagnosis is crucial to improving survival rates for sarcoma patients.
Abdu made the appeal in a statement on Thursday to commemorate Sarcoma Awareness Month, observed every July. She said raising awareness and encouraging early detection were essential to reducing the burden of the disease across the country.
Sarcoma is a rare group of cancers that develop in the bones and soft connective tissues, including muscles, fat, cartilage, blood vessels, tendons and nerves. The disease can affect both children and adults.
According to Abdu, sarcomas are often difficult to distinguish from other types of cancer, particularly when they occur in internal organs, making diagnosis challenging and their true incidence likely underestimated.
She identified delayed diagnosis as one of the biggest obstacles to effective treatment, noting that symptoms are frequently mistaken for less serious conditions, resulting in missed opportunities for timely intervention.
“Early detection remains the most effective way to improve treatment outcomes and survival rates,” she said, urging greater public awareness of the warning signs associated with the disease.
Abdu also called on healthcare professionals to maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients with persistent lumps, unexplained swelling or prolonged bone pain that may require further investigation.
She emphasised that timely referral and accurate diagnosis are essential to successful treatment, adding that effective sarcoma care depends on a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from different fields.
According to her, the treatment team should include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, oncology nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals working together to provide comprehensive patient care.
Abdu described Sarcoma Awareness Month as a reminder that “no cancer should be forgotten,” calling for stronger collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers and the public to promote early diagnosis and improve access to quality cancer care.
She urged anyone experiencing persistent lumps, unexplained swelling or prolonged bone pain to seek immediate medical evaluation rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
Abdu reaffirmed KCTC’s commitment to delivering patient-centred cancer care through advanced diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and multidisciplinary expertise aimed at improving survival rates and patients’ quality of life.
Source:NAN
