Roche, Oncopadi tech to support 5,000 breast cancer patients

A multinational healthcare company, Roche and a provider of digital integrated healthcare services, Oncopadi Technologies have launched a Breast Cancer Access Navigation and Testing Programme targeted at supporting breast cancer patients across the country.

The programme will also help to improve early detection and provide timely, accurate diagnosis of breast
cancer by providing free immunohistochemistry tests, multidisciplinary care and navigation services for 5,000 Nigerian women.

Meanwhile, the Global Cancer Observatory has projected that 32,000 new breast cancer cases will be recorded in Nigeria in 2025.

Speaking at the launch of the programme in Abuja on Thursday, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Chief Executive Officer of Oncopadi Technologies, Omolola Salako, observed that the statistics imply that approximately 2,700 cases would be detected each month and 88 cases each day.

Salako said, “For five seconds, I want you to imagine what it feels like for the 88 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer today. Now imagine, if you will, the mental, physical and financial barriers breast cancer raises, when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, a ton of emotions consume her, fear, anger and confusion.

“In a matter of weeks, she would realise the direct cost of her treatment would cost between N2-30m or maybe more. In fact her indirect cost of care may even cost her more if her source of livelihood (her job or business) is threatened. For example, multiple hospital visits for diagnosis, treatment and management of side effects may consume her time and prevent her from her earning potential.”

Salako noted that the situation can be overwhelming, frightening and distressing for any woman diagnosed with breast cancer and pointed out that in such a state of mind, many women may make uninformed decisions regarding their healthcare.

She stated that Nigeria has the highest age-standardised breast cancer mortality rate in the world.

The oncologist observed that delays in accessing care, missing life-saving treatments and the aggressive nature of breast cancer in Nigerian women particularly those with triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer, contribute to poor survival outcomes.

Salako observed that in a 2014 study that compared the three-year survival rates, Nigeria ranks lowest among five African countries, with 59 per cent for Black women in South Africa, 56 per cent for Black women in Namibia, 47 per cent in Zambia, 44 per cent in Uganda, and only 36 per cent in Nigeria.

She emphasised that while the statistics may seem grim, the current 50 per cent mortality rate is an improvement from the previous rate of 80 per cent a few decades ago.

Salako explained that the BRANT journey began in 2022 when Oncopadi and Roche engaged in numerous co-creation sessions to develop a novel program to digitally enhance breast cancer diagnosis and care.

She observed that the BRANT programme was birthed by leveraging Roche’s expertise as a global leader in oncology diagnostics and treatment whilst utilising Oncopadi’s digital oncology capabilities and community mobilisation strategies in Nigeria, adding that a strategic agreement was signed by both parties in 2024.

According to her, Oncopadi has mobilised many cancer patients over the years, especially women to access care and educational resources online.

“To this end, a strategic agreement was signed by Roche and Oncopadi in 2024 and we have worked tremendously hard to fulfill our shared vision, which is to support 5,000 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.”

She explained that BRANT was birthed by leveraging Roche’s expertise as a global leader in oncology diagnostics and treatment while utilising Oncopadi’s digital oncology capabilities.

General Manager, Roche Nigeria, Ladi Hameed said the BRANT programme is a transformative initiative to reshape breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.

Hameed who was represented by the Medical Director, Roche Products Limited, Dr Bola Oyedeji said 5-in-10 women diagnosed with breast cancer will not be here in five years time hence the need to reduce the time to diagnosis of breast cancer in order to improve survival.

He stated that in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, half of the women diagnosed with breast cancer do not survive beyond five years due to factors such as lack of awareness, insufficient funds, and limited access to testing and treatment adding that the average diagnostic timeline extends to six months, compared to less than 60 days elsewhere.

Hameed, however, said that even though the programme would run for the next 18 months, there was a need to collectively think about sustainability.

The Director- General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Usman Aliyu highlighted that BRANT was a milestone in the nation’s continuous effort to enhance patient care, streamline support systems, and empower individuals battling the disease.

Represented by the Director of Cancer Prevention and Control, Waziri Usman, he emphasised that the BRANT programme was designed to make patient navigation which is a complex landscape of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, much easier.

The Deputy Country Representative of the World Health Organisation to Nigeria, Alexander Chimbaru, commended the organisations for coming up with a homegrown solution to reducing the burden of breast cancer.

“This is a very valuable and informative initiative to make breast cancer screening, navigation, and testing more accessible for women. However, what is remaining now is action.”