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Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
Cervical cancer is still the most common form of cancer affecting Zimbabweans of all races, according to the latest figures published by the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry.
The registry reported that at least 7 659 Zimbabweans were diagnosed with cancer in 2017, an increase of nearly 400 above the 2016 figures (7 265).
Cervical cancer remained the lead cancer followed by prostate, breast cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, oesophagus and colorectal in that order.
The most frequently occurring cancers among Zimbabweans of all races in 2017 were cervix uteri (20%), prostate (10%), breast (8%), Kaposi sarcoma (KS) (5%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (5%), oesophagus (5%), colorectal (4%), stomach (4%) and liver (3%).
The other cancers accounted for 36% of the registered malignancies.
A total of 2 804 cancer deaths comprising 1 319 (47.0%) males and 1 483 (53.0%) females were recorded in Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo in 2017 compared to 2 751 cancer deaths recorded in 2016.
The leading causes of the deaths were cervical cancer (13%), prostate (10%), breast (8%), oesophagus (7%), liver (6%), stomach (5%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5%), Kaposi sarcoma (4%) and colorectal (4%).
The other cancers constituted 38% of the recorded deaths.
Health experts say the rise in cancer cases in Zimbabwe is largely due to changes in diet and rapid urbanisation.
“The kinds of diet we are taking which are increasingly becoming westernised and a combination of sedentary lifestyles is one of the attributions,” said ZNCR registrar Mr Eric Chokunonga.
Online Reporter