Sola Ogundipe and Chioma Obinna
16 June 2008
Lagos — In Nigeria and several developing countries, up to 23 per cent of malignancies (cancers) are caused by infectious agents, including hepatitis B and C virus (liver cancer), the human papillomaviruses (cervical and ano-genital cancers), and Helicobacter pylori (stomach cancer).
With a dismal public health infrastructure and a low compliance of women, late cytological detection of cervical cancer (PAP smear) has led to a worrisome increase in mortality.
Today, more than 80 per cent of all cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria even though vaccinations could be key to preventing these cancers. The HBV vaccination has already been shown to prevent liver cancer in high-incidence countries and it is likely that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination will become a reality in 3 to 5 years.
Cervical cancer
Vanguard Features findings show that in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), chronic tissue damage carries an in creased cancer risk, e.g. consumption of very hot beverages (squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus), gastro-oesophageal reflux (adenocarcinoma of the esophagus), chronic gastritis induced by H. pylori infection (stomach cancer), Crohn's disease (cancer of the small intestines) and ulcerative colitis (colon cancer).
Also is the impact of poverty. Here, the probability of being diagnosed with cancer is very low and many cancer patients die of the disease because they are picked up when they already have late-stage incurable tumours - pointing to the need for much better detection programmes.
One of the main reasons for the greater cancer burden is increasing exposure to occupational carcinogens, and the Westernisation of nutrition and lifestyle. Lately, cancer has emerged as a major public health problem in developing countries for the first time, matching its effect in industrialized nations. "It is a global problem, and it's growing. The Western lifestyle is characterized by a highly caloric diet, rich in fat, refined carbohydrates and animal protein, combined with low physical activity, resulting in an overall energy imbalance. It is associated with a multitude of disease conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension and cancer.
Malignancies typical for affluent societies are cancers of the breast, colon/rectum, uterus (endometrial carcinoma), gallbladder, kidney and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Prostate cancer is also strongly related to the Western lifestyle, but there is an additional ethnic component; black people appear to be at a greater risk than whites. Obesity is another factor that visualizes a chronic energy imbalance and is an independent predictor of an increased cancer risk, particularly for carcinomas of the uterine endometrium, kidney and gall bladder.
While stomach cancer is not one of the fast rising malignancies in Nigeria, although amongst those that still prefer salty food, stomach cancer rates are still relatively high. Epidemiological studies indicate that the frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing cancers of epithelial origin, including carcinomas of the pharynx, larynx, lung, oesophagus, stomach, colon and cervix.
Recent data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), suggests that a daily consumption of 500 g of fruits and vegetables can decrease incidence of cancers of the digestive tract by up to 25 per cent. Given the multi-faceted impact of diet on cancer, encouragement of consumption of locally produced vegetables, fruit and agricultural products, and avoidance of adoption of Western style dietary habits are desirable.
Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of cancer in Nigeria and the world. As Nigerians succeed in achieving lifestyles similar to Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, they are encountering much higher cancer rates, particularly cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and uterus (endometrial carcinoma). It goes without saying that the Pap smear for cervical cancer is the single best cancer screening procedure.
The medical community must develop a wide spectrum of tests for other cancers and are now evaluating many procedures to determine if they are effective and practical.
Infection and cancer: Intervention is key
In Nigeria and several developing countries, up to 23 per cent of malignancies (cancers) are caused by infectious agents, including hepatitis B and C virus (liver cancer), the human papillomaviruses (cervical and ano-genital cancers), and Helicobacter pylori (stomach cancer). With a dismal public health infrastructure and a low compliance of women, late cytological detection of cervical cancer (PAP smear) has led to a worrisome increase in mortality. Today, more than 80 per cent of all cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria even though vaccinations could be key to preventing these cancers.
The HBV vaccination has already been shown to prevent liver cancer in high-incidence countries and it is likely that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination will become a reality in 3 to 5 years.
Vanguard Features findings show that in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), chronic tissue damage carries an in creased cancer risk, e.g. consumption of very hot beverages (squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus), gastro-oesophageal reflux (adenocarcinoma of the esophagus), chronic gastritis induced by H. pylori infection (stomach cancer), Crohn's disease (cancer of the small intestines) and ulcerative colitis (colon cancer).
Also is the impact of poverty. Here, the probability of being diagnosed with cancer is very low and many cancer patients die of the disease because they are picked up when they already have late-stage incurable tumours - pointing to the need for much better detection programmes.
One of the main reasons for the greater cancer burden is increasing exposure to occupational carcinogens, and the Westernisation of nutrition and lifestyle. Lately, cancer has emerged as a major public health problem in developing countries for the first time, matching its effect in industrialized nations. "It is a global problem, and it's growing. The Western lifestyle is characterized by a highly caloric diet, rich in fat, refined carbohydrates and animal protein, combined with low physical activity, resulting in an overall energy imbalance. It is associated with a multitude of disease conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension and cancer.
Malignancies typical for affluent societies are cancers of the breast, colon/rectum, uterus (endometrial carcinoma), gallbladder, kidney and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Prostate cancer is also strongly related to the Western lifestyle, but there is an additional ethnic component; black people appear to be at a greater risk than whites. Obesity is another factor that visualizes a chronic energy imbalance and is an independent predictor of an increased cancer risk, particularly for carcinomas of the uterine endometrium, kidney and gall bladder.
While stomach cancer is not one of the fast rising malignancies in Nigeria, although amongst those that still prefer salty food, stomach cancer rates are still relatively high. Epidemiological studies indicate that the frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing cancers of epithelial origin, including carcinomas of the pharynx, larynx, lung, oesophagus, stomach, colon and cervix.
Recent data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), suggests that a daily consumption of 500 g of fruits and vegetables can decrease incidence of cancers of the digestive tract by up to 25 per cent. Given the multi-faceted impact of diet on cancer, encouragement of consumption of locally produced vegetables, fruit and agricultural products, and avoidance of adoption of Western style dietary habits are desirable.
Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of cancer in Nigeria and the world. As Nigerians succeed in achieving lifestyles similar to Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, they are encountering much higher cancer rates, particularly cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and uterus (endometrial carcinoma). It goes without saying that the Pap smear for cervical cancer is the single best cancer screening procedure.
The medical community must develop a wide spectrum of tests for other cancers and are now evaluating many procedures to determine if they are effective and practical.
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