# The out-of-pocket cost of breast cancer care in Nigeria: a prospective study at one teaching hospital

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-wuraola-breast-cancer-out-of-pocket-nigeria-jcpo-2024/  
OnCo record `paper-wuraola-breast-cancer-out-of-pocket-nigeria-jcpo-2024` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Among 71 patients treated for breast cancer with curative intent at a teaching hospital in south-west Nigeria, the mean cost of care was 5,193 US dollars and between 79% and all of them faced catastrophic health spending.

## Summary

Consecutive patients starting curative-intent treatment for newly diagnosed breast cancer at a single tertiary hospital in south-west Nigeria between August 2019 and September 2022 reported household income, capacity to pay and all direct and indirect costs, at admission and at six-month follow-up. Catastrophic health expenditure was defined three ways: spending above 40% of capacity to pay, or above 10% or 25% of annual income.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Journal: Journal of Cancer Policy
- Year: 2024
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100518
- Authors: Wuraola FO, Blackman C, Olasehinde O, et al.
- Findings: Mean cost of care was 5,192.77 US dollars against a mean annual capacity to pay of 2,866.93 US dollars.; Between 56 (78.9%) and 71 (100%) of the 71 patients experienced catastrophic health expenditure, depending on the costs included and the threshold.; 66.2% presented at stage III or later, 95.8% received chemotherapy and 23.9% received adjuvant radiotherapy; 66% had no health insurance.
- What it means: For most patients in this study, paying for breast cancer treatment cost more than their household could afford, which is why insurance cover for cancer is a central question in Nigeria.
- Caveats: One hospital and 71 patients; costs elsewhere in Nigeria may differ.; Costs are self-reported by patients.

## Sources

- J Cancer Policy 2024: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100518
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39522636/

## Connected records

- institutions: [National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)](https://onco.cc/institutions/nhia/)

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