Welcome to TDCF
The Dorcas Cancer Foundation is a Non-Profit Organization founded in September 2015 to support children living with cancer in Nigeria and incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in March, 2016.
It was founded in memory of Dorcas Adepitan (May 29, 2003 – July 13, 2015), a young girl and cancer patient who succumbed to Osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) after a long and courageous battle.
The Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that Childhood Cancer survival rate in Nigeria catches up to rates seen in the other parts of the developed world.
The foundation operates its mission on four key goals:
- Research
- Early detection
- Accurate diagnosis
- Prompt and proper treatment
Awards
Recognized for our work and awarded The HEALTH ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR 2018 AWARD; MOST UNIQUE NGO 2018 AWARD; The CIVIL SOCIETY SDGs AWARD 2018 (SDG 3); Department of Pediatrics UNILAG/CMUL/LUTH Award 2021; Health Start-Up Company Excellence Awards 2022- Healthcare Alliance and Partnership excellence Awards (Patient Advocacy Group) of IASPHARMA 2022 by 5 different organizations in recognition of our commitment and contribution to care and survival of childhood cancer in Nigeria, Africa.
Our Impact
TDCF Feature at the 2022 London Cancer Week (GPON Conference)
International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP Congress 2022)
#Teamdorcas was part of the delegates from Nigeria represented at the 54th Annual Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Barcelona, Spain.
Cancer Caregivers Question and Answer Session
We organized the 1st childhood cancer caregiver question and answers (virtual program) to dispel the fear and myth of childhood cancer. Over 40 caregivers were in attendance. Four medical experts, a cancer coach, and a childhood cancer survivor were in attendance to answer people’s questions.
International Childhood Cancer Day Event
In February 2022, we kicked off an event to mark International Childhood Cancer Day (1st of its kind in Nigeria) every February in line with the global childhood cancer community.
TDCF Medical Consumables Donation Drive
Over 30 medical consumables boxes donated to the pediatric cancer patients on Pediatric Oncology wards.
Treatment Funding
Funded diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for over 60 children diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria. We have several survivors who are now cancer-free and many more children who are still on treatment plus a long waiting list of children who need our support and urgent treatment.
Research Grant
Awarded three (3) research grantees with funding of $1,000 each on Childhood Cancer Research. The next research grant cycle will award N1million naira to a childhood cancer researcher in Nigeria and is set to be announced this September during the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Pediatric Cancer Access Program
Providing completely free and uninterrupted cancer treatment to children from diagnosis, through surgery, chemo- and radiation therapy as well as prosthetic and other rehabilitation through direct partnerships with health care providers and institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and private industry.
PedROC
Provided pediatric radiation Oncology training to over 250 specialist health care professionals in partnership with experts from institutions in some of the best hospitals in the world.
Look Again Campaign
Trained over 1000 Community and Primary Health Care Workers in Lagos, Ogun state and Oyo States on The 5 Signs & 5 Questions MethodTM, a tool developed and patented by the foundation to increase early cancer detection by at least 100%.
Childhood Cancer Handbook
Published the first Childhood Cancer Handbook and Pamphlet in Nigeria; and has distributed over 1,500 copies of handbooks and 3000 copies of pamphlets to doctors, nurses, medical professionals, and families of child cancer patients
Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)/Tumor
Supported the formation of the first Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)/Tumor Board in Ogun state seated at the Federal Medical Center Abeokuta and the running of the pediatric cancer tumor board in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). A meeting that has Oncologists, Radiologists, Oncology Nurses, Surgeons, Pathologists, and other health workers in attendance.
Media Awareness
Media Awareness drives reaching an audience of over 2 million people through both local and international media stations (TV and Radio).
Support Group
Created the first childhood cancer support group in Nigeria, Hands of Gold and have held twelve (12) Support group meetings with over 60 families and children with cancer.
Cancer Caregivers Program
Trained over thirty (30) Cancer Caregivers through our Caregivers Workshop programs.
Treatment Navigation
Created the first treatment navigation program for childhood cancer patients and families in Nigeria.
Community Awareness/Advocacy
Successfully executed community programs in several locations in Southwest Nigeria – Ejigbo, Matogun, Mushin, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, and Abeokuta communities; where we reached over 1,500 families and individuals in Nigeria.
Blood Donation Drive
Partnered with an initiative to collect 375 pints of blood for children living with cancer and sickle cell disease.
Cancer and life choices lecture to over 100 senior secondary school students.
Presented the results from the first round of distribution of the Childhood Cancer Handbooks at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2018 in Malaysia.
Donated over 100 Care Kits (Comfort items) to the children on the Cancer wards of the two major teaching hospitals in Lagos.
Donated medical equipment to the children’s cancer wards of both the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to improve the comfort and care of patients.
Recognized for our work and awarded the HEALTH ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR 2018 AWARD; MOST UNIQUE NGO 2018 AWARD; and the CIVIL SOCIETY SDGs AWARD 2018 (SDG 3) by 3 different organizations in recognition of our commitment and contribution to cancer survival in Nigeria.