With the global celebration of World Cancer Day (WCD) today, the need for every country to create more awareness on the deadly disease and encourage its prevention through early detection and treatment is once again on the front burner. This is in line with the resolution of the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) which set aside February 4 of every year for united action against the growing cancer epidemic.
Anchored on the theme, “Not Beyond Us”; this year’s WCD takes a positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer and highlights the fact that the solution to the problem is well within our reach.
According to medical experts, cancer is a large group of related diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. They state that in cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumours and invading other parts of the body. They are also of the view that cancer can occur at any age. It is also a fact that some children are born with cancer. The disease affects people of all races and socio-economic classes. Cancer can run in families too. Cancer hits the poor and vulnerable particularly hard and drives them deeper into poverty. It can occur in any essential body organ including the stomach, lung, breast, kidney, liver, heart, eye, nose, skin, cervix, bone, brain and others. The most common cancers in males include those of the lung, prostate, colon, rectum and stomach whilst those in females are those of the breast, cervix and colon.
Available statistics indicate that cancer is a global epidemic. It is the number one killer disease of mankind. One out of every three persons will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. The global burden of cancer doubled between 1975 and 2000, is set to double again by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. It is also projected that by 2030, one out of every two persons will be diagnosed of cancer in their lifetime. While deaths from infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS will decline by seven million every year, those from cancer are expected to rise. Sadly, about 70 percent of cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria.
According to WHO, over 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually and about 80,000 die from the disease. This means that 10 Nigerians die every hour of cancer. The Nigerian cancer death ratio of 4 in 5 is said to be one of the worst in the whole world. Several common diseases that are said to be risk factors for cancer include diabetes, renal disease, malaria, helicobacter pylori, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus and hypertension. Cancer and these related diseases are said to kill more people in Nigeria than all other causes of death combined.
Sadly, cervical cancer which is almost 100 percent preventable kills one Nigerian woman every hour. Breast cancer now kills 40 Nigerians daily (up from 30 daily in 2008). Prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily (up from 14 daily in 2008). These three common cancers alone kill 90 Nigerians daily.
However, the good news is that most cancer-related deaths are preventable. According to WHO, one-third of all cancers can be prevented; another one-third can be effectively cured with early diagnosis, whilst palliative care can improve the quality of life of the last third. Many cancerous growths can be prevented by not indulging in smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains as well as not eating too much red meat and avoidance of regular exposure to sunlight and urban air pollution.
As we join the rest of the world in marking the WCD, let government make cancer treatment centres available throughout the country. Since early detection and treatment can help save and prolong lives, there is the need for public awareness creation about the disease as well as preventive measures which include early diagnosis and treatment. Nigerians should be encouraged to go for regular medical checkups. In fact, the war against cancer requires more impetus from the federal and state governments in the country.
The WCD being observed today calls for reduction of illnesses and death caused by cancer through the raising of awareness on cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection and treatment. It calls on people to desist from unhealthy lifestyle such as tobacco smoking, intake of hard drugs like cocaine and regular consumption of alcoholic drinks. Those living sedentary lives should partake in moderate physical exercises. People should eat more of the local foods and less of junk foods. Government should also provide mobile cancer clinics in all states of the country as being advocated by cancer activists such as the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) in Nigeria.
