adminZCR registrar Mr Eric Chokunonga attributed the increase to the functioning of the healthcare system which impacted positively on case ascertainment.
“All the possible sources of information of the registry were adequately covered resulting in a significant increase in the number of new cases of cancer recorded when compared with the preceding two years,” Mr Chokunonga said.
He said the ZCR relied on health institutions such as public, private and municipal hospitals, histology, haematology and radiology reports, radiology centre, oral health centre and death certificates for its data collection.
“Operations, including theatre facilities for biopsies, improved at most public sector institutions that had been severely affected by the economic challenges of the previous two years,” said Mr Chokunonga.
From the three reports, all published in 2012, women continue to be affected by cancer more than males and out of 4 520 cases reported in 2010, 2 683 were females against 1 837 males. Similarly, in 2009, from the 3 519 people diagnosed of cancer, 2 092 were females against 1 427 males.
In 2008, 1 642 females were diagnosed of cancer against 1 076 males.
Harare Municipality has since started using a new approach of screening and treating cervical cancer, which is cost effective, faster and brings convenience to patients.
Cervical cancer is the leading cancer in women accounting for 25,9 percent of all cancers that affect them.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, this new approach called the visual inspection with ascetic acid and cervicography (VIAC) will be rolled out to other provinces.
At least 1 410 cancer deaths were recorded in the country in 2010, with Harare alone recording 1 029 deaths in 2009 and 1 212 the previous year.
Online Reporter