Cancer care in Cameroon faces a complex web of challenges that mirror a broader crisis gripping many low- and middle-income countries. A recent in-depth study carried out at Mbingo Baptist Hospital, one of the country’s foremost healthcare institutions, delves into the lived experiences of cancer patients navigating this fraught landscape. Utilizing a biopsychosocial framework, the research provides a comprehensive examination of how systemic barriers intertwine with personal struggles, shedding light on a public health dilemma with profound implications for Sub-Saharan Africa’s future.
Cameroon, like many Sub-Saharan countries, is grappling with a striking rise in cancer incidence amid limited healthcare infrastructure and scarce resources. The burden of cancer morbidity and mortality has escalated in recent years, fueled by inadequate early detection mechanisms and constrained treatment options. This dynamic poses heightened challenges to a population already burdened by infectious diseases and other health priorities, creating a scenario where cancer care is lamentably deprioritized on many fronts.
The qualitative study explored in-depth narratives of eleven cancer patients at Mbingo Baptist Hospital between December 2023 and January 2024. Through detailed interviews, researchers uncovered multifaceted barriers that patients confront, starting from the initial diagnosis stage and extending through treatment regimens and ongoing follow-up care. The findings reveal alarming delays in diagnosis, often linked to limited access to diagnostic technology and specialized oncology expertise.
Financial hardship emerges as a significant impediment within this context. The cost of cancer treatment in Cameroon remains prohibitive for most patients, with scant financial protection or insurance mechanisms available. Patients and their families often face crippling expenses, which not only impact adherence to treatment but also exacerbate psychosocial stress. This economic strain is compounded by the need for repeated hospital visits and sometimes extended travel from rural areas to urban treatment centers, underscoring the geographic disparities that pervade cancer care accessibility.
Emotionally and psychologically, the toll on patients is profound. The study highlights narratives of distress, anxiety, and hopelessness among individuals contending with their diagnosis and the uncertainty of their prognosis. The psychological burden is often heightened by social stigma attached to cancer, which may lead to isolation and diminished support networks. Despite these adversities, many patients exhibit remarkable resilience, drawing strength from familial bonds and community networks that play a pivotal role in emotional buffering.
Accessing healthcare services in Cameroon is another critical hurdle. Patients report inconsistent availability of essential cancer care components, including chemotherapy drugs, radiotherapy, and palliative care services. This scarcity is exacerbated by infrastructural limitations, ranging from under-equipped hospitals to shortages of trained oncology specialists. The systemic inefficiencies result in treatment interruptions and suboptimal care outcomes, highlighting the urgent need to bolster health systems with comprehensive oncology capabilities.
The researchers employed the biopsychosocial model strategically to unravel the interconnected layers affecting patient experiences. This theoretical lens facilitated understanding of how biological factors, such as disease progression and symptomatology, intersect with psychological states and social environments, including cultural attitudes and socioeconomic status. By adopting this holistic perspective, the study robustly captures the complexity inherent in cancer care delivery and its lived reality in a resource-constrained environment.
Findings also point to the necessity of early detection as a linchpin for improving cancer outcomes. Currently, late-stage presentation is common, markedly reducing survival chances and amplifying treatment difficulties. Public awareness campaigns and screening initiatives remain sorely lacking, contributing to diagnostic delays that could otherwise be mitigated. The absence of these preventive measures underscores a critical gap in Cameroon’s health priorities, necessitating immediate policy intervention.
Financial protection mechanisms, such as health insurance and subsidized treatment programs, are conspicuously limited in Cameroon, leaving patients vulnerable to catastrophic health expenditures. This economic fragility curtails treatment completion rates and amplifies disparities among different socioeconomic groups. Policymakers must urgently address these gaps to foster more equitable and sustainable cancer care frameworks.
Another dimension unveiled by the study is the role of community and familial support in fostering resilience among cancer patients. Amidst systemic shortcomings, personal networks often compensate by offering emotional sustenance, caregiving assistance, and sometimes financial help. These social supports are not merely ancillary but integral to patient well-being and coping mechanisms, underscoring the social fabric’s centrality in the cancer care continuum.
International and non-governmental organizations have a crucial role to play in bridging gaps within Cameroon’s cancer care systems. The study advocates for collaborative engagement encompassing capacity building, infrastructure investment, and knowledge transfer to homegrown healthcare providers. Such alliances, tailored to contextual realities, are indispensable for sustainable cancer control strategies that resonate with local needs and cultures.
A significant implication of the study is the clear call for integrated care models that address not only biological treatment but also psychological counseling and social support services. Holistic approaches are essential to ameliorate the multidimensional challenges patients face and to improve quality of life throughout the cancer trajectory. This paradigm shift demands interdisciplinary cooperation among oncologists, mental health professionals, social workers, and community leaders.
Moreover, advances in telemedicine and mobile health platforms present promising avenues to mitigate geographic and resource constraints prevalent in Cameroon. Leveraging technology could enhance patient follow-up, improve health education, and facilitate remote consultation, thereby partially circumventing structural bottlenecks. Innovative digital solutions aligned with local realities offer a potential catalyst for healthcare transformation in resource-limited settings.
Training and retaining oncology specialists constitute another pillar identified for health system strengthening. Cameroon’s depletion of skilled healthcare workers limits the delivery of specialized cancer care. Investing in education opportunities, continuous professional development, and equitable distribution of medical personnel is critical to addressing workforce shortages and elevating care standards.
In conclusion, the experiences of cancer patients at Mbingo Baptist Hospital expose systemic fragilities that reflect broader challenges in Cameroon and similar low-resource contexts. The study’s insights foreground an urgent imperative: comprehensive reforms that encompass infrastructure enhancement, financial risk protection, public awareness, and holistic patient-centered care. Addressing these intertwined factors demands coordinated efforts by government bodies, healthcare institutions, civil society, and international partners.
Ultimately, mitigating the cancer burden in Sub-Saharan Africa hinges on transcending fragmented approaches and embracing inclusive, context-sensitive cancer control strategies. The knowledge gained from this theory-guided inquiry not only illuminates patient realities but also charts a path toward more resilient, equitable healthcare systems capable of improving outcomes and preserving dignity for millions confronting cancer in Cameroon and beyond.
Subject of Research: Patient experiences and systemic barriers in cancer care at Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Cameroon, analyzed through a biopsychosocial framework.
Article Title: Navigating cancer care in Cameroon: a theory-guided inquiry on patient experiences at Mbingo Baptist Hospital
Article References:
Afungchwi, G.M., Tum, E.M., Elit, L. et al. Navigating cancer care in Cameroon: a theory-guided inquiry on patient experiences at Mbingo Baptist Hospital. BMC Cancer 25, 958 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14338-y
Image Credits: Scienmag.com
