Cancer awareness among a Nigerian population.

We conducted a population survey with the objective of identifying the level of cancer awareness. In Nigeria many patients present late for medical care. We analysed data from 460 literate Nigerians. Three hundred and sixty (78.3%) had heard about cancer. 34.1% identified particular risk age categories, while 62.2% said that cancer could occur at any time. Awareness of warning signs and sites of cancer location was very poor and only 33% recognized that a breast lump was a warning sign. Knowledge of methods of early detection was also very low and only 50% said that cancer is curable when detected early. This investigative survey highlighted a considerable ignorance and lack of awareness of cancer among the Nigerian population.