Cancer increasing threat to African countries

Around 13% of all deaths in the world are due to cancer, that’s around 7.6 million deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As time goes by, the number of cancer cases is increasing rapidly and it has been projected that by 2020 there will be 16 million cases of cancer globally.

With limited resources accessible for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, people across the African continent are gradually being wiped out by the disease.

Reports indicate that African females mostly suffer from cervical and breast cancer while males suffer from liver, prostrate, stomach, lung, oesophagus and bladder cancers. In Kenya, the most frequent diagnosed cancer is breast and oesophagus cancer leading to approximately 118,000 cancer deaths under the age of 70 per year

Despite the alarming situation facing Africa, people have little or no information on cancer prevention and the possibility of treatment. Access to affordable and quality cancer treatment is another major hurdle in almost all African countries. To solve the problem of access, one option would be to follow Mexico’s example and make comprehensive health insurance universally available.

To raise awareness about cancer, Kenya marked International Cancer Day (4 February 2012) in different ways across the country. The Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association and the Kenya Cancer Association joined forces to host the Kenyan film premiere of Life Before Death, a multi-award winning documentary about terminally ill patients, their families and the extraordinary healthcare professionals fighting to change the culture of medicine to be more focused on care rather than on cure. It is an intimate, hopeful and life-affirming collection of stories about living well and dying better. The film travels to 11 countries, and through the eyes of patients and their families we discover the inherent humanity that empowers the best of us to care for those beyond cure.

A WHO spokesperson said: “World Cancer Day is a stark reminder that there is an increasing number of cancer cases being diagnosed across the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The global incidence of cancer is projected to rise from 12.7 million in 2008 to 21.4 million by 2030. This number could be significantly reduced through cost effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.”

Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made in the curbing and treatment of cancer. Eating fruits, vegetables and fish plus drinking plenty of fresh water and herbal tea and taking a lot of exercise is heavily advised to keep cancer at bay and many people now know to follow these instructions. In this regard society must fight poverty at all levels and ensure that the poor have access to basic needs in life that make for healthy and productive lives.

According to the WHO’s latest Global status report on non-communicable diseases, cancer is predicted to become an increasingly significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the next few decades. The report suggests that in all regions of the world the rise of cancer and cancer-related deaths can be reversed if appropriate action is taken such as the development of specific strategies to prevent cancer. Interventions include finding ways to reduce tobacco use and alcohol and encouraging physical activity and healthy diets. Alongside primary prevention, comprehensive cancer control also encompasses early detection or screening, treatment and palliative care.