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Background and context: In Nigeria, cancer leads to >72,000 deaths per annum (30,924 for male and 40,647 for female). This number is set to increase given that there are 102,000 new cases of cancer every year. The estimated incidence for prostate cancer is (12%) and estimated mortality prostate (13%). Prostate cancer is the third leading cancer death in Nigeria and the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigerian men. However, very little or nothing is said about prostate cancer in Nigeria. Every October, virtually all cancer NGOs roll out their drums of awareness focused on breast cancer, prostate cancer is always missing, while several men die in silence and pain because their prostate cancer was discovered at late stages. Men on Blue is a health intervention focused on closing the gap of awareness, education and screenings for prostate cancer in rural communities of Lagos, Abuja and Enugu. The intervention will use 3 core strategies, such as: prostate cancer awareness, prostate cancer screenings and social media campaigns. Our target is to screen 2000 men, reach 20,000 men directly, reach 30,000 women and youth directly in rural communities of Lagos, Abuja and Enugu and 5 million indirectly through traditional and social media in Nigeria. Aim: To reduce the incidence of prostate cancer through the creation of a platform for prostate cancer awareness, screening and support in Nigeria. Program/Policy process: The program use focused on phasing out late diagnosis of prostate cancer through screenings outreaches in local communities in Nigeria. Men are always missing in cancer awareness and programs, hence, the program will bring men to the fore of cancer awareness. Outcomes: It is expected that this program will increase the level of prostate cancer awareness in Nigeria through the translation of information materials in local languages, engage men to lead the campaign and the use of strategic social media campaign. What was learned: Preliminary results of the planning process of the program, showed that several men are battling with prostate cancer, however, very few is said about them and they are dying in silence. Their voice need to be heard in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and context: Through the UICC and Pfizer Oncology SPARC MBC grant, Project PINK BLUE - Health and Psychological Trust Centre implemented Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Program (BCNPP) with strategic activities focused on metastatic breast cancer with the goal "to empower women at risk of, or living with advanced breast cancer and to reduce incidence of stage III or IV breast cancer". The project established Nigeria´s first patient navigation program which trained 138 health workers and social workers across the 6 area councils of Abuja and connected 116 breast health facilities, 58 in Abuja and another 58 across Nigeria (diagnostic centers and hospitals) in a Web-based navigation map application. The program was designed to train only 18 patient navigators for Abuja only, however, we trained 44 patient navigators from National Hospital Abuja, Enugu and Kebbi states whom are currently working on establishing BCNPP programs in their respective states. The trained oncology nurse navigators are providing optimum palliative care and navigation to patients across the mapped health facilities in Abuja. While 72 institutions have been engaged through diverse partnerships, 27 resources were produced including videos, documents, and palliative/navigation book for healthcare workers; 10 ECHO palliative care training were organized for nurses and pain doctors, with additional 8 face-to-face workshops on palliative care and patient navigation and 5 patient support group meetings. Seventy-two news articles were published including TV, radio, and interviews. Aim: To empower women at risk for, or living with advanced breast cancer and to reduce incidence of stage III or IV breast cancer. Strategy/Tactics: The program used training of nurses, cancer survivors and nurses to become patient navigators at National Hospital Abuja and across the 6 area councils of Abuja. Currently, Niger state and Enugu state have also been trained on patient navigation and more cancer patients have been tracked and followed up through their journey with cancer in Nigeria. Outcomes: The program has transited to lead national advocacy at Nigeria's Parliament for the establishment of National Institute on Cancer Research and Treatment and has also establish some initiatives, such as Abuja's first cancer support group and patient-led advocacy and campaign. Several metastatic breast cancer patients were navigated through their journey with cancer. What was learned: Metastatic breast cancer patient needed more support to live a quality life, they needed more than just pain drugs. They need listening ear and caregiver who would show their care and love. Patient navigation is an emerging area of oncology, hence, there is a need to support the patient navigators to devote more time for the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]