PATTERN AND INTENT OF CANCER CASES PRESENTED TO THE RADIOTHERAPY UNIT OF USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (UDUTH) SOKOTO

Abstract

Title: Pattern and Intent of Cancer Cases Presented to The Radiotherapy Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto. Background: Cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In many developing countries, cancer often presents at advanced stages owing to inadequate screening programs and limited access to timely diagnosis and treatment. This study was carried out to assess the pattern and treatment intent of cancers presented to the Radiotherapy Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving records of 439 cancer patients referred to the Radiotherapy Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, between June 2024 and May 2025. Data on age, gender, cancer type, stage at presentation, and treatment intent were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS version 27.0. Results: A total of 439 cancer patients presented to the Radiotherapy Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, within the study period were included in this study. Most of the patients (50%) were aged 50 years and above, with a mean age of 47.2 years. There was a marked female predominance (65.6%), largely driven by breast (26.7%) and cervical (18.0%) cancers. Late presentation was striking, as 69.1% of staged cases were at Stage III or IV and palliative treatment intent was recorded in 52.8% of cases. Age-specific patterns showed cancers peaking among middle-aged women and older men, while gender-specific distribution followed expected trends: breast and cervical cancers in women, prostate and head-and-neck cancers in men. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that cases referred to UDUTH Radiotherapy Unit were predominantly female, above 50 years, with breast cancer as the leading malignancy presenting at advanced stages and were mostly managed with palliative intent. Strengthening early detection and screening programs is essential to improve cancer outcomes in the region. Keywords: Cancer, Radiotherapy, Late presentation, Palliative intent, Sokoto Nigeria