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Cancer is a type of disease that the body drives intrinsically with the help of genetic markers. There are also certain social demographic factors at play. Furthermore, scientists claim that certain risk factors increase the chances of cancer. These include

  • behavioural factors
  • lifestyle factors
  • environmental factors

A drawback is that the majority of the demographic researches focuses on western countries. Because of this, the true picture of cancer in Africa remains unclear. Furthermore, there is a wide heterogeneity in the black population. This makes studying the African population quite difficult.

HISTORICAL FINDINGS

The African continent holds some of the oldest civilizations in the world. Sadly, it also has the oldest recorded cases of cancers. According to research, the oldest cancer in the continent was present in the Egyptian papyrus of Imhotep. Egyptian Imhotep claims that there is no treatment for cancer during those times.

CANCER LOAD IN AFRICA

The cancer load in Africa is so huge that women that live in Kampala or Harare have cancer after 65 years of age. A common cancer in Africa is Kaposi’s sarcoma which is dominant in equatorial Africa which is also linked with an increased rate of HIV in the area.

Regardless of this, the services for the treatment of the disease is minimal. According to research, 11.3% of people in Uganda above the age of 63 suffer from one form of cancer. In Zimbabwe, these figures are as high as 12.6%.

CANCER PATTERNS IN AFRICA

As of now, the basis for evidence of cancer patterns was on findings from the past. These include both clinical and pathological findings. Researchers often combine these studies to draw a complete picture.

There are very few statistics on the death rates in the region. The only African countries with proper death registration systems include Mauritius and Seychelles. Hence no reliable data exists that can establish a pattern of cancer in the region.

Approximately half a million new cancer cases occurred annually in the male African population. This is from unofficial reports from health sources.

 

TOP MALE CANCERS IN AFRICA
Name of Cancer Percent of Incidence
Kaposi’s Sarcoma 15.9%
Liver Cancer 13.3%
Prostate Cancer 10.7%
Esophageal Cancer 6.0%
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 5.8%
Stomach Cancer 4.5%

 

TOP FEMALE CANCERS IN AFRICA
Name of Cancer Percent of Incidence
Cervical Cancer 25.4%
Breast Cancer 17.4%
Kaposi’s Sarcoma 6.2%
Liver Cancer 5.5%
Stomach Cancer 3.8%
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 3.8%

 

RISK FACTORS FOR SPREAD OF CANCER IN AFRICA

Cancer has attracted less attention from Health Care services in Africa. This is because of the higher incidence of other communicable diseases in the region. According to the statistical figures by the WHO report, cancer has a 3.8% death rate in Africa. One of the factors is its coexistence with other older diseases in regions. It is also one of the reasons behind the prevalence of cancer as a regional problem.

As discussed previously, both communicable and non-communicable diseases, increase the chance of Cancer. There is also an increase in the consumption of tobacco and immunosuppression. Immunosuppression may be due to the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV, in combination with cancer, can cause a high prevalence of the disease.

Environmental toxins are the other risk factor that increases the incidence of cancer. An example of this environmental toxin is Aflatoxin. Despite the short life span of HIV patients, African continue to age.

According to a research report, the risk of cancer will continue to increase in Africa. It can be because of the growth and aging of the population. Moreover, the prevalence of risk factors also continues to increase. Some reasons for the increase in risk factors include

  • The transition of economic conditions in the region
  • Increase in the habit of smoking. It may be due to the adaptation of Western lifestyle.
  • Alterations in the reproductive factors. That means an early maturity in the population, delay in childbearing. There is also a trend of low fertility
  • Alteration in the dietary lifestyles. It refers to an increase in the intake of animal and hydrogenated fat.
  • An inactive lifestyle that leads to the reduction of the expenditure of energy

Various researches already point towards an increase in cancer cases due to these risk factors. An example includes an increase in breast cancer in Uganda. However, this remains less in Black women in Western countries. It indicates that the regional variation is causing the rise in cases of cancer.

LACK OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

Controlling the spread of disease utilizes a majority of the aid that the continent receives. It means that the government focuses more on controlling older diseases. Because of this, there are deaths in the region due to other disease is now quite less. However, one of the drawbacks is that Africa has failed to develop a proper health care system. According to research, 80% of the cancer diagnosis in Africa occurs in late stages. Moreover, only 10% of the patient receive palliative care for cancer.

Statistical analysis in the Journal of Oncology also states that there are only 102 centers for cancer treatment in Africa. There is also a shortage of oncologists in Africa. The few cancer specialists that Africa has suffered from lack of equipment. They also do not have the latest techniques available to treat a form of cancer effectively.

METHODS TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE CANCER IN AFRICA AND PREVENTION METHODS

One of the drawbacks of controlling the rise of cancer cases is inadequate attention towards them. It makes the progress of implementing prevention methods slow and tedious. Regardless of this, certain prevention methods are applicable in some of the countries. A few preventive methods include the following

  • Use of tobacco

Controlling the use of tobacco is one of the most easily preventable methods of Africa. It is responsible for 6% of the cancer death in Africa alone. WHO has established a framework for the control of tobacco. Some of the methods include increasing tobacco prices. Furthermore, there is also a ban on smoking in public and its advertisements. However, only a few countries in Africa use this framework.

  • Obesity

Obesity can be due to several factors. There are two reasons for weight gain. Lack of physical activity is the major factor. The other maybe because of consuming unhealthy food. It can lead to endometrial, colon, breast, and oesophageal cancer. Obesity is on the rise in urban countries of Africa. According to a 2003 research, more than 25% of men and 50% of women in Cameroon are overweight. WHO has also strategized dietary patterns and physical activity in the region. These programs are easy to follow and are sustainable for the majority of the people.

  • Infectious Agents

Infections are one of the major preventable causes of cancer. These are also the reason that the officials often neglect cases of cancer in the region. Some of the common cancers due to infections include the cervix, bladder, and Kaposi Sarcoma. A very common vaccine for Hepatitis B virus causes liver cancer in Sub Saharan Africa. However, despite knowing the risk, it is a part of routine immunization protocol in Africa.

Human Papilloma Virus is another causative agent for cancer. It causes cervical cancer. Vaccines against this virus are free for all, especially the girls in Africa. One of the drawbacks is that this vaccine requires three doses. It can be difficult for girls living in rural areas. Another such virus is HIV. It can cause Kaposi Sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and cervical cancer. Prevention of such types of cancer is possible with good hygiene.

The only way this is possible is to educate the people living in Africa. Parasites such as Schistosoma, hematobium causes bladder cancer in Africa. Prevention of this is possible by avoiding to bathing in freshwater areas.

  • Early Diagnosis

No current researches support finding out how the stage of diagnosis affects the outcome of the disease. However, according to the study, 91% of breast cancer patients in Tanzania were diagnosed in Stage III or IV. Similarly, around 80% of cervical cancer cases were diagnoses in advanced stages.

An early diagnosis helps in controlling cancer. For example, the use of mammography can help to detect breast cancer in early stages. In cases of colon, cancer sigmoidoscopy helps in the early detection of the disease. According to studies, screening at least once or twice reduces the chance of cervical cancer by 30%.

Sadly, Africa’s infrastructure cannot successfully place these tests as preventive methods. Some researchers suggest it may be because of the lack of resources in Africa. Another method is to increase public awareness. It can lead to the identification of the symptoms by the general public themselves.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of cancer cases in Africa is not yet accurate. This is because there are only a few official registration databases. The majority of these are available for main urban cities only. Conclusively, it can be said that cancer is a growing cause of concern for the continent.

Furthermore, risk factors are also increasing. The only possible way to prevent the rising number of cases of cancer is to reduce these risk factors. Moreover, a collaborative effort between health authorities and the public can also help to curb the disease.

 

REFERENCES

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