By Grace Edema
Specialists in orthopaedic oncology have urged increased awareness and early medical screening as key measures to improve survival rates for patients with cancers of the bones and muscles, warning that late presentation remains a major challenge in treatment outcomes.
They made the call at the 2026 School Cancer Awareness Programme themed “Understanding Bone Cancer,” organised by the Musculoskeletal Oncology Support Foundation at Tripple Cross High School, Ogba, Lagos.
At the programme, the experts also sought to dispel misconceptions surrounding the disease and encourage timely hospital visits.
A Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Suleman Giwa, said cancers of the bones and muscles are not a death sentence if detected and treated early.
According to him, the outreach was designed to educate students and the public on musculoskeletal cancers and dispel misconceptions surrounding the disease.
“When we talk about orthopaedic oncology, we are referring to cancers that arise from the muscles and bones of the human body and what we offer in terms of treatment for patients with this sort of condition,” he said.
He added, “What we’ve come here to do is an advocacy to let people know that developing cancers of muscles and bones is not a death sentence. It is curable, particularly if patients come to visit us early and we make early diagnoses and offer appropriate treatment.”
Giwa cautioned against attributing cancer to supernatural causes, stressing that “patients should not see cancers as the handiwork of witches and wizards,” noting that research into its causes is still ongoing.
Explaining the nature of the disease, he said cancer occurs when body cells continue to divide uncontrollably, unlike normal healing processes, where cell growth stops after recovery.
He also called for increased government support, saying, “Government must put some funds aside to help these sorts of patients so that they can access treatment cheaply and timely,” adding that his foundation aims to influence policies that reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
On prevention and early action, Giwa advised, “When you see a swelling, an abnormal swelling in any part of your body, please approach the experts for early diagnosis and early treatment.”
Also speaking, a professor of Orthopaedics and oncologist, Samuel Eyesan, said targeting young people was a strategic approach to spreading awareness.
“This is a school awareness programme. One of the ways we can let people know about cancer is to speak to little children who can pick up things quickly and tell their parents and friends,” he said.
He emphasised that early detection remains key to survival, noting, “Cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection is the best thing. When you detect early, you can treat it.”
Addressing stigma and financial barriers, Eyesan urged patients not to hide symptoms.
“If you have any symptom anywhere in the body, don’t be ashamed to talk. Quickly say it out and let your friends take you to the hospital,” he said.
He added that while government support is improving, non-governmental organisations also play a crucial role in assisting patients who cannot afford treatment.
A consultant paediatric specialist and Vice President of the Musculoskeletal Oncology Support Foundation, Dr Opeyemi Olusunmade, said the programme aimed at equipping students with life-saving knowledge.
“We are here to teach them that early presentation at the hospital, early detection and early treatment will lead to better outcomes,” Olusunmade said.
He stressed that students could act as agents of change, adding, “We feel that telling these students these things, they will be able to spread the information in their community and change the mindset about cancers.”
Delivering a general message, he said, “Any symptoms, when they see signs of cancer, they should present to the hospital early. If they present early, the outcome of treatment will be much better.”
A student of the school, Aisha Prince, said participants gained insights into musculoskeletal cancers and preventive lifestyle choices.
“We’ve been able to learn different types of cancer, mainly musculoskeletal cancer, which affects muscles and surrounding tissues,” she said.
She added that students planned to extend the awareness beyond the school. “We will work with the school management to organise rally walks and public campaigns to spread enlightenment to other students and communities,” she said.
The programme was organised by the Musculoskeletal Oncology Support Foundation.
Secretary of the Local Organising Committee and Consultant Orthopaedic Oncologist, Tunde Oloyede, stressed that the school awareness programme is part of the foundation’s mandate to involve younger generations in advocacy and education on cancer prevention.
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