Childhood Cancers; Diagnostic Challenges in Sub-Sahara Africa

Abstract

Childhood cancers pose a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa due to late diagnoses, limited treatment options, and poor long-term survivorship. This paper aims to describe the key childhood cancers affecting the region, explore barriers to diagnosis and treatment, and propose potential solutions. The most common childhood cancers in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan countries include leukemia, brain tumors, lymphomas such as Burkitt's lymphoma, and solid tumors like neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumor. However, lack of diagnostic capacity, scarce chemotherapy resources, and high costs frequently delay diagnosis and prevent optimal treatment. Poverty is also associated with worse survival outcomes for pediatric cancer patients. Solving this crisis requires coordinated, multi-pronged efforts. Areas of focus include establishing childhood cancer surveillance and control policies, training primary providers to recognize early signs and symptoms, strengthening referral networks, increasing pediatric oncology services in underserved areas, expanding research on childhood cancers unique to the region, and enhancing financial access to treatment. With government support for childhood cancer programs and global partnerships to address shortages in skilled staff and technologies, survival rates have the potential to significantly improve for Africa's children with cancer. Keywords: Childhood cancer, malignancy, Diagnosis, Challenges.