Federal Government Launches Blood-Based Test for Early Detection of 9 High-Mortality Cancers

The federal government of Nigeria has launched a blood-based test, known as Oncoseek, for the early detection of nine high-mortality cancers. The test can identify breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and stomach cancer. The launch took place during the maiden National Workshop of the National Cancer Control and Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group, led by Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako.

Key Takeaways:

• The blood-based test, Oncoseek, is capable of detecting early, high-mortality cancer types, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and stomach cancer.
• The test was launched during the National Workshop of the National Cancer Control and Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group, led by Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako.
• The Technical Working Group, established in February 2025, aims to work out how Nigeria can deploy nuclear medicine services and technologies to improve healthcare.
• The government is implementing programs for cancer prevention, treatment, and control, including the construction of six cancer centers of excellence and the creation of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.
• The test is useful for screening and identifying patients who may require definitive diagnostic tests, addressing the challenge of late detection and presentation of cancers in Nigeria.

Statistics:

• 9 high-mortality cancers can be detected early using the Oncoseek blood-based test.
• 6 cancer centers of excellence are being constructed across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
• 2025 budget will fund the second phase of providing state-of-the-art cancer treatment infrastructure.
• 1 cancer center of excellence will be located at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, under the 2025 budget.

Sources:

• Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health
• National Cancer Control and Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group
• Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta
• National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment
• International Atomic Energy Agency (reference not explicitly provided in the original text)