Health
PT Health Watch: How laboratory tests can help detect colorectal cancer early
Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum, is one of the most common cancers globally, yet it can remain unnoticed for a long time because some people have no symptoms in the early stages.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.9 million new cases of colorectal cancer and more than 900,000 deaths occurred globally in 2022.
The agency said symptoms, when they occur, may include blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
Because some people may not notice any warning signs, screening can provide an opportunity to identify possible abnormalities before the disease becomes advanced.
What happens before a diagnosis is confirmed?
Laboratory investigations are an important part of that process, as medical laboratory scientists examine samples that can provide clues about what is happening in a patient’s body.
Speaking with PT HEALTH WATCH, Adedoye David, a medical laboratory scientist, said laboratory testing contributes to the investigation of colorectal cancer through the examination of biological samples, including stool, blood and tissue.
One of the investigations is the Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), which detects blood in stool that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Another is the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which uses antibodies to detect human haemoglobin in stool.
These tests can help identify people who may require further assessment, but Mr David stressed that detecting blood in stool is not the same as diagnosing cancer.
“Stool-based tests are very important for detecting hidden blood in stool. It could be reliable if the test investigation is carried out using the right and standard operating procedures.
“But as much as it can be reliable in detecting hidden blood, it might not be totally reliable in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer,”he said.
Where further investigation is necessary, Mr David said a patient may be referred for procedures such as colonoscopy, during which abnormal areas can be identified and tissue samples taken for laboratory examination.
A biopsy can then help determine whether the abnormal tissue is cancerous.
Why symptoms should not be ignored
The distinction between screening and diagnosis is important because colorectal cancer does not always announce itself with obvious symptoms.
A person who feels healthy may therefore not consider testing necessary, while another may receive a negative stool test and conclude that further medical attention is unnecessary.
Mr David said both assumptions could be misleading.
He urged people to seek medical advice when they experience persistent symptoms rather than waiting for them to become severe.
He also advised people with a family history of colorectal cancer or long-term inflammatory bowel disease to discuss their risk with healthcare professionals and determine whether they require earlier or more frequent screening.
WHO identifies family history of colorectal cancer and certain inflammatory bowel diseases among factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.
Although colorectal cancer is more common with increasing age, it is not exclusively a disease of older people. WHO has also reported a rising incidence among younger adults in several countries.
Screening is only useful when people can complete it
The challenge, however, is not simply persuading people to undergo screening. The health system must also be able to support them when a test produces an abnormal result.
Evidence from Nigeria illustrates this point.
A Nigerian community-based study involving more than 2,000 adults found that FIT screening was feasible. However, the researchers also highlighted challenges with follow-up colonoscopy after positive results.
This means that detecting a possible problem is only one part of the process. Patients must be able to access the additional investigations required to establish what the abnormal result means and, where necessary, begin treatment.
Mr David identified limited facilities capable of carrying out some key investigations and the cost of available services as major challenges facing colorectal cancer testing in Nigeria.
For people who may already be hesitant about testing, the cost and availability of diagnostic services can make early detection even more difficult.
READ ALSO: Hot tea, coffee linked to higher risk of oesophageal cancer — Study
Mr David also urged Nigerians to overcome the embarrassment that may come with providing stool samples for laboratory examination.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of producing a stool sample. It is just like any other medical sample and it is needed for us to carry out informed diagnosis,” he said.
Ultimately, a stool test is not a verdict on whether a person has cancer. Rather, it can be one step in a process that helps health professionals decide who may need further investigation.
For Mr David, improving colorectal cancer outcomes therefore requires both public awareness and access to appropriate laboratory and diagnostic services, so that people can seek help early and abnormal findings can be properly investigated.
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A military cardiologist, Life Ajemba, has warned that hypertension, prolonged stress, and inadequate sleep could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among serving military personnel and veterans.
Mr Ajemba, a major-general, said hypertension remains one of the most common cardiovascular conditions among serving personnel and military retirees.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, he urged military personnel and veterans to prioritise their heart health through regular medical checks, physical exercise, healthy diets and adequate rest.
He cited studies which showed that hypertension accounted for 15.31 per cent of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
He also referenced another study which found a hypertension prevalence of 34.3 per cent among military personnel.
He noted that major risk factors included alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease and being overweight.
According to him, the demanding nature of military service could also increase cardiovascular risks due to physical stress, psychological trauma, irregular schedules and inadequate sleep.
“Military duties affect heart health through a combination of extreme physical stress, psychological trauma and environmental exposures that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said.
The military cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
He added that sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further increase the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.
Mr Ajemba stressed the importance of regular medical screening among military personnel, saying early detection could help identify silent conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and elevated blood sugar.
He said routine medical checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profiles, electrocardiograms (ECGs), chest X-rays, and echocardiography where necessary.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: How Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension puts mother, baby at risk
“Early detection ensures that soldiers receive treatment while remaining fit for duty, preventing medical evacuation and safeguarding their long-term health,” he said.
He also encouraged military personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, saying fitness helped reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue.
Mr Ajemba, however, advised personnel to combine physical fitness with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
He said maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
(NAN)
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The Plateau State Government and health stakeholders are developing a five-year transition plan to sustain HIV prevention, treatment and care as international donor funding for HIV programmes in Nigeria declines.
Ibinibo Chukwuemeka, Director of Health Systems Strengthening at APIN Public Health Initiatives, said the changing funding landscape would require greater government ownership and stronger measures to sustain HIV services as donor support winds down, according to a report by the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday.
The AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, now known as APIN Public Health Initiatives, has supported HIV prevention, treatment and care in Plateau State for about 25 years.
APIN says its programmes have expanded HIV treatment access to rural and peri-urban communities, including through primary healthcare facilities.
The proposed five-year framework is expected to guide the state in assuming greater responsibility for financing and coordinating HIV services while protecting gains recorded in prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Health officials, representatives of relevant government ministries and other stakeholders are working on strategies to mitigate the impact of the anticipated reduction in donor support and prevent disruption of services for people living with HIV.
Among the measures under consideration is the integration of HIV and AIDS services into the Plateau State Health Insurance Scheme.
Stakeholders are also exploring local sources of antiretroviral drugs to help ensure uninterrupted access to treatment as external funding declines.
The proposed transition framework would provide a roadmap for sustaining HIV interventions and clarifying the responsibilities of the state government and other stakeholders in financing and delivering essential services.
The development comes amid a broader shift in Nigeria’s HIV response towards greater domestic financing and government ownership.
In June, the Federal Government launched the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which prioritises domestic financing, expansion of health insurance and integration of HIV services into the broader healthcare system as the country seeks to reduce dependence on donor-supported interventions.
The need for alternative financing has become more pressing as international support for HIV programmes declines.
Nigeria’s existing national HIV financing framework has also identified locally produced antiretroviral drugs and increased government investment as potential ways of reducing the country’s funding vulnerability.
Plateau has previously taken steps towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.
READ ALSO: Body with parts removed found near Plateau market
At the state’s 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration, officials disclosed that 51,370 people were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, while 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were receiving antiretroviral therapy.
The state’s HIV response recorded 2,786 new infections and 460 HIV-related deaths in 2024, according to figures presented by the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, in December 2025.
The success of the proposed transition will depend largely on sustained government funding, effective planning and the ability of the state health system to absorb services previously supported by external partners.
For people living with HIV, stakeholders say ensuring uninterrupted access to antiretroviral treatment and other essential services must remain central to the transition.
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