Our Story
The only oncologist – led pediatric cancer non-profit organization in Nigeria. Founded in 2015 to support children diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria. Founded in memory of Dorcas Adepitan a young girl born on May 29, 2003, who tragically passed away on July 13, 2015, at just 12 years old due to osteosarcoma, (cancer of the bone)
Our Vision
To ensure that every child and young person in Nigeria has the opportunity to live their best life and reach their full potential, unhindered by cancer.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure the best standard of care for every child, adolescent, and young adult with cancer in Nigeria by funding, facilitating, and finding care that leads to cures.
Ten Years Of Impact
- Direct funding of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of over 120 children. – Click to see some of our children.
- 3000 community health care workers trained through the Look Again Program. Click here to learn more
- 1000 radiation and oncology professionals trained through the PedROC program (Pediatric Radiation Oncology virtual Course). Click here to learn more
- 4,500 childhood cancer Patient Education Resources and handbooks distributed in seven teaching hospitals in Nigeria.
- Over 210 Childhood Cancer Care Kits and 100 Chemotherapy consumable boxes donated to the children in pediatric cancer wards of teaching hospitals.
- 3 childhood cancer research grants awarded
- Supported the creation of the first Pediatric Tumor Board in Nigeria.
- Supported the establishment and operations of the first Pediatric Cancer Registry in Nigeria. Anchored the efforts to ensure the inclusion of Nigeria as a WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (WHO-GICC) country.
- Launched the first Childhood Cancer Support Group (Hands of Gold) in Nigeria.
- Pediatric oncology ward renovation and medical equipment donations.
- Anchored the efforts to ensure the inclusion of Nigeria as a WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (WHO-GICC) country.
- Successfully advocated for Nigeria’s bid to host the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (Africa Continent ) Congress- SIOP Africa 2026 Congress.
- Over 375 pints of blood donated to children with cancer.
- Over 2 million people were reached through both local and international audiovisual (TV and Radio), print, and social media advocacy campaigns.
- Annual Christmas Party with Wish-Granting Program for children diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria.
- Contributed an estimated ₦7 million worth of professional pediatric oncology consultation time to support children with cancer and their families.
- Over ₦20 million worth of drugs donated to children with cancer.
About Us
The Dorcas Cancer Foundation (TDCF), Nigeria's sole oncologist-led pediatric cancer non-profit, was founded in 2015 in honor of Dorcas Adepitan, who passed away from Osteosarcoma (Bone cancer) in 2013 at the age of 12.
Over the past 10 years, TDCF has directly funded treatment for hundreds of childhood adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. We have also supported pediatric cancer research, trained thousands of health care workers, and led the changing landscape of young person cancer in Nigeria. TDCF has also contributed meaningfully to health systems improvement initiatives in childhood adolescent and young adult cancer, with partnerships with several key organizations such as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and others, culminating in the recent inclusion of Nigeria as a WHO GICC country.
In 2024, TDCF became the first Nigerian organization admitted into the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Global Alliance, a community of more than 180 institutions and organizations across over 80 countries all over world – an indication of the feats we have accomplished and further strengthening us to improve cancer survival for young people in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Research
- Early detection
- Accurate diagnosis
- Prompt and proper treatment
- Oncologist-led: TDCF is the only oncologist-led non-profit organization in Nigeria solely dedicated to childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancers. Our leadership ensures clinical insight, credibility, and strategic focus on lifesaving interventions.
- Non-discriminatory: We serve all children, adolescents, and young adults aged 0–29 years across Nigeria—regardless of diagnosis, background, or status—with a strong focus on underserved and low-income families.
- Proven Track Record: In 2024 alone, we supported over 100 patients and families through direct treatment interventions, care navigation, and psychosocial support at six tertiary centers. Our target is to scale impact to 500 patients annually by 2027.
- Research-backed: Our work is grounded in data, evidence, and continuous learning. We collaborate with national and international research partners, publish outcomes, and use data to inform care
- Integrity & Accountability: TDCF donors and partners clearly understand how their contributions are deployed, utilized and monitored, and the organization has maintained an impeccable reputation and history, upholding the highest standards of transparency and impact measurement.
- Access & Positioning: TDCF is deeply integrated into clinical systems, as we work closely with the teaching hospital and social work departments with qualified experts in the most equipped centers.
Every year, millions of children around the world are diagnosed with cancer; with more than 80% of these children living in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria.
Tragically, a significant number of these children will receive little; or even no treatment at all, due to a combination of failure to seek medical care, lack of resources to afford the care, and lack of access to specialized healthcare professionals or facilities.
Childhood cancers have an excellent chance of cure if detected early, accurately diagnosed, and promptly and properly treated. In developed countries, long – term survival rates for some childhood cancers approach values as high as 90%.
Even in resource-deficient settings such as Nigeria, unnecessary discomfort and mortality from childhood cancer can be significantly reduced with improved societal awareness leading to early detection, accurate diagnosis of the cancer; and prompt and proper intervention and treatment.
The Dorcas Cancer Foundation was borne out of this need. Join us, as we work to save the lives of children battling cancer all over Nigeria.
Our Purpose
TDCF runs a growing set of patient-centered programs designed to bridge the cancer care gap:
- Funding: We directly cover or subsidize the cost of diagnostics, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and rehabilitative care.
- Facilitating: We coordinate referrals, streamline and help navigate the diagnosis and treatment journey, and support multidisciplinary care planning.
- Finding: We prioritize science, data and research, partnering with hospitals, clinicians, researchers and patients to identify and guide the best treatment options and investing in future cures.
TDCF Champions
Samuel
Timothy
Inioluwa
David A.
Perfect
Emmanuel
Tomiwa
Godstime
Favour
Goodnews
Darasimi
Sumayyah
