adminHealth Reporter
CANCER kills more people in poor countries than tuberculosis (TB), malaria and HIV combined.
Statistics released by the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe last week shows that cancer was worse than Aids – accounting for 8,2 million deaths annually and 14,1 million new cases in 2012.
Addressing journalists at a media workshop organised by the National Aids Council in Macheke, CAZ official, Ms Pricilla Mangwiro, revealed than an estimated 57 percent of new cancer cases and 65 percent of the deaths occur in developing countries.
Most of these cancers are related to HIV and Aids, Hepatitis B and C and Human papillomavirus (HPV).
About 6 548 cases comprising 2 777 males and 3 771 females were recorded in Zimbabwe in 2013. About 60 percent of the new cancers in Zimbabwe are related to HIV and Aids.
Ms Mangwiro said 2 062 cancer deaths comprising of 951 (46 percent) males and 1 111 (54 percent) females were recorded in Harare in 2013.
Nearly 1 800 women contract either cervical or breast cancer each year in Zimbabwe.
“Adoption of western lifestyles in the developing countries is resulting in an increase in lifestyle related cancers. We have forsaken our traditional diet which was vegetable based for a Westernised one in which we consume a lot of beef. It is important to reduce beef intake to three days per week.
“The HIV and Aids pandemic is augmenting the rate of HIV-related cancers. Low immunity renders one prone to cancers and 60 percent of new cancers in Zimbabwe are being associated with HIV and Aids. Those with the virus have a high risk of developing certain cancers, and HIV and Aids related cancers very common in Sub-Saharan Africa include Kaposi Sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. Other infections such as HPV (Cervical cancer) and Hepatitis B (Primary liver cancer) are drivers of cancer in Zimbabwe,” said Ms Mangwiro.
High tobacco consumption was also blamed for the cancer upsurge in Zimbabwe.
Tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of cancer in the world, causing 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancers and 30 percent of all cancers in the developing countries.
“About 50 percent of the cancers could be prevented, and another 30 percent of cancer deaths avoided by mainly by avoiding smoking, having a healthy diet, being physically active, moderating the use of alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight. Cancer deaths are on the rise yet they can be avoided. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world causing 22 percent of cancer deaths. Up to 20 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented by immunisation against the infection of HBV and HPV. Cancer can be cured if detected and treated early, but late presentation leads to prolonged suffering, added cost, and poor outcomes of treatment,” said Ms Mangwiro. ART improves the immune system thereby reduces the risk of developing Aids defining cancers early. However, patients need to adhere to treatment to reduce resistance to the first line drugs.
Online Reporter