Oncologist Raises Alarm on Cancer Surge Among Nigerians Aged 18-39
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Clinical oncologist Dr Omolola Salako has raised concern over a rise in aggressive, unpredictable cancers among Nigerians aged 18 to 39, warning that late diagnosis remains a major challenge for this age group.
Clinical oncologist Dr Omolola Salako has raised concern over a rising number of aggressive and unpredictable cancer cases among Nigerians aged 18 to 39, a group younger than standard screening thresholds for many cancer types.
Speaking in an interview, Dr Salako, who is Chief Executive Officer of Pearl Oncology Specialist Hospital, said patients in this age bracket are increasingly presenting with advanced-stage disease, often because symptoms are dismissed as minor ailments in younger adults. She said the trend often leads to late-stage diagnoses that are more difficult to treat.
Dr Salako called for greater public awareness of early cancer symptoms among young adults and encouraged Nigerians to seek prompt medical attention for persistent or unusual symptoms rather than assuming cancer risk is limited to older age groups.