Cancer control in Africa: which priorities?

Pharmacological Research, 2021

Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, 2017

PLOS ONE, 2022

Background Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In Ethiopia, 5.8% of deaths are attributed to cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the cancers preventive practice and associated factors in North West Ethiopia, 2019. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Bahir Dar city residents. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 845 study participants. Data were collected through a validated interviewer administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was adapted from the American cancer association cancer prevention toolkit. Descriptive statistics were computed and presented in charts and texts. The model fitness was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit (P > 0.05). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with cancer preventive practice. A pvalue < 0.2 at bivariate analysis was candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, p-value of < 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant predictor for cancer preventive practice at the 95% confidence interval.

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2012

The goals of cancer control strategies are generally uniform across all constituencies and are to reduce cancer incidence, reduce cancer mortality, and improve quality of life for those affected by cancer. A well-constructed strategy will ensure that all of its elements can ultimately be connected to one of these goals. When a cancer control strategy is being implemented, it is essential to map progress towards these goals; without mapping progress, it is impossible to assess which components of the strategy require more attention or resources and which are not having the desired effect and need to be re-evaluated. In order to monitor and evaluate these strategies, systems need to be put in place to collect data and the appropriate indicators of performance need to be identified. Session 2 of the 4th International Cancer Control Congress (ICCC-4) focused on how to manage population health to prevent and detect cancers and non-communicable diseases through two plenary presentations a...

Ca-a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 2009

Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2014

It is projected that aged population (≥60 years) will continue to increase globally, including in Africa. This is due to reduced population growth, decreased fecundity and improved medical interventions; factors which increase life expectancy. While this is typical for developed countries, it is not the same for Africa and similar developing regions. In these regions, a significant proportion of death is due to non-communicable diseases (NCD's) such as hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease and cancer, among others. Rising prevalence of NCD's due mainly to western style diets and sedentary living is made worse by inadequate nutrition education, high prevalence of low birth weight, poor health services, lack of efficient tobacco control and deficient planning of built environment. In order to halt the possible reduction in life expectancy occasioned by NCD's, efforts by the community, health planners and governments in Africa to address relevant NCD's, must be put in place. Suggested measures are: nutrition education, regular community directed physical exercise, improved environmental planning and development. Others are review of present health service model, early detection, prevention and treatment of NCD's, including improved antenatal care to reduce low birth weights, and establishment of policies and measures that decreased access to tobacco especially by women of childbearing age. Africa and similar developing regions cannot fund the health bill due to NCD's and their complications; hence it is important that this scourge is attended to with all seriousness.

2002

Worldwide, between 1990 and 2001, mortality rates from all cancers fell by 17% in those aged 30-69 years and rose by 0·4% in those aged older than 70 years. 1,2 This deline was lower than the fall in mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases, which declined by 9% and 14% in men aged 30-69 years and 70 years or older, respectively, and of 15% and 11% for women in the same age groups. Age-specific mortality rates for chronic diseases are driven by changes in exposure to risk factors, and by availability of screening systems and treatment. Advances in primary and secondary prevention and in treatment have been effective in reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases over the past few decades, at least in developed countries. 3 Therapeutic interventions have had less success in reducing deaths from most cancers. For example, in the USA, age-adjusted death rates for all cancers combined fell slightly in the 1990s (on average 1·5% per year in men and 0·6% per year in women between 1992 and 1999). The fall in overall cancer mortality in men was mainly a result of reductions in mortality from lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers. 4 In women, mortality due to lung cancer increased in the 1990s, but there was a decrease in death rates from breast and colorectal cancers. The fall in lung-cancer mortality in men was mostly due to lower incidence, 4 itself a result of a reduction in smoking. The causes of decreased mortality from prostate cancer remain uncertain, since incidence figures over time might not be comparable because of changes in diagnostic techniques and death certification. 5 Rates of death from colorectal cancer might have fallen because of early detection and removal of precancerous polyps, early detection of tumours, and improved treatment. 6 For breast cancer in women, increased coverage of mammography screening 7 and successful treatment with multi-agent chemotherapy and tamoxifen have been effective in reducing mortality. 8 Treatment has also been effective for some cancers in children and young adults-eg, leukaemia and testicular cancer. 9,10 5-year survival rates remain relatively low, however, for lung, oesophageal, liver, stomach, and pancreatic cancers (all Ͻ25%). Although a combination of screening and treatment is increasingly effective in reducing mortality from some cancers, limitations in availability of clinical interventions for other cancers, and in access to and use of existing technologies, clearly constrain the effects of treatment on population trends in cancer mortality, even in developed countries. As such, primary prevention through lifestyle and environmental interventions might offer the best option for reducing the large and increasing burden of cancers worldwide. Policies and programmes to implement such interventions depend Lancet 2005; 366: 1784-93 Summary Introduction With respect to reducing mortality, advances in cancer treatment have not been as effective as those for other chronic diseases; effective screening methods are available for only a few cancers. Primary prevention through lifestyle and environmental interventions remains the main way to reduce the burden of cancers. In this report, we estimate mortality from 12 types of cancer attributable to nine risk factors in seven World Bank regions for 2001.

Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine, 2016

ecancermedicalscience, 2019

Decision makers dealing with resource allocation in Africa have the impression that cancer research is a luxury. As a result of this, very few or no resources are allocated for cancer research in Africa. Since in healthcare, clinical and epidemiological research provides an evidence base for formulation of health policies and facilitates decision making by policy makers, the lack of evidence base makes decision making intuitive. A situation like this is not cost-effective and is unacceptable. It is, therefore, important that for Africa to make effective decisions to improve the health of its population, cancer research informing policy and decision makers is a necessity and not a luxury.

2013

West African Journal of Medicine, 2011

There is an impending cancer epidemic in Africa. In Nigeria, this disease is causing untold devastation, and control measures are desperately needed. Breast, cervical, prostate, and liver cancers are the most common types in Nigerian adults. In children, the predominant malignant diseases are Burkitt's lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, neuroblastoma, and Wilm's tumor (nephroblastoma). The focus of efforts to control cancer in Nigeria should be directed at prevention with adequate attention to planning/policy making, early detection, accurate diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. National and regional allocation of sufficient resources is required, accompanied by measurable objectives and appropriate emphasis on accountability. WAJM 2010; 29(6): 408-411.

Annals of Oncology, 2006

The burden of cancer in developing countries is growing and threatens to exact a heavy morbidity, mortality, and economic cost in these countries in the next 20 years. The unfolding global public health dimensions of the cancer pandemic demand a widespread effective international response. The good news is that the majority of cancers in developing countries are preventable, and the efficacy of treatment can be improved with early detection. Currently, the knowledge exists to implement sound, evidence-based practices in cancer prevention, screening/early detection, treatment, and palliation. It is estimated that the information at hand could prevent up to one-third of new cancers and increase survival for another one-third of cancers detected at an early stage. To achieve this, knowledge must be translated into action. To facilitate the call to action in the fight against cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a comprehensive approach to cancer control. The WHO has produced many valuable guidelines and resources for the effective implementation of national cancer control programs. Several milestones in the WHO's efforts include the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, and global strategies for diet and exercise, reproductive health, and cervical cancer. This review examines the strategies and approaches that have successfully resulted into global action to confront the rising global burden of cancer in the developing world.

2019

Key Message 1: Cancer Burden Has A Broad Social, Economic, And Political Impact. New cancer cases and cancer deaths are anticipated to at least double in Africa by 2030, reaching 1.28 million new cancer cases and 970,000 cancer deaths[1]. Cancer takes a substantial toll on the financial security, quality of life and the future well-being of patients and their families. In African culture, burden on families is particularly great, as family members help pay illness costs. Additionally, mothers of children affected with pediatric cancers carry a disproportionate share of caretaking burden, and face challenges from missing work to transportation costs and marital instability. Key Message 2: Research Is Essential To Effective And Cost-Efficient Cancer Control. Research forms the bedrock of health care policy in many international countries and translating research into health practice has been shown to improve patient safety and treatment outcomes[26]. In international settings, locally relevant cancer research has led to substantial cost savings in care. Allocating cancer research funding with respect to the societal burden each type of cancer imposes leads to high impact clinical and policy interventions[27]. Key Message 3: Collaboration Provides Opportunities to Gain Cutting Edge Knowledge. Collaboration with other African governments and regional or international bodies provides opportunities for mentorship and information exchange. In 2015, 473