Pathways to health outcomes after cancer diagnosis: A systematic review of cancer survivorship in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: With advancements in medicine and technology, more people are surviving cancers. However, cancer mortality in Nigeria remains high. The yearly estimate is 72,000 cancer-related deaths, making cancer one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria. The current study aimed to identify and synthesize factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship in Nigeria and add to our understanding of the patterns of cancer survivorship in LMICs, such as Nigeria.

METHOD: Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. We identified 31 peer-reviewed studies that examined cancer treatment, management, care, and survivorship in Nigeria.

RESULTS: Eight themes emerged from 31 peer-reviewed studies that examined the factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship among Nigerians. They include themes such as self-care and management, treatment options, availability of pseudo-doctors/pharmacists, and the desire to live. The themes were further grouped into three overarching themes: psychosocial, economic, and health care.

CONCLUSION: Cancer survivors in Nigeria face many unique experiences that impact their health outcomes and chances of survivorship. Therefore, understanding cancer survivorship in Nigeria must involve studies on diagnosis, treatment, remission, surveillance, after-cancer care, and end-of-life. With enhanced support, cancer survivors will have improved health, thereby reducing the cancer mortality rate in Nigeria.