Mapping Cancer in Africa: A Comprehensive and Comparable Characterization of 34 Cancer Types Using Estimates From
Rajesh Sharma1, Aashima1, Mehak Nanda1
1University School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India.
Frontiers in Public Health
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Cancer burden in Africa is rising, with significant variations across countries. Higher socioeconomic status correlates with better cancer survival rates, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure and prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing in Africa.
- Geographic distribution and determinants of cancer burden are not well understood.
- There is a need to forecast future cancer burden and assess infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the spatial epidemiology of cancer burden in Africa.
- To analyze the association between cancer burden and socioeconomic status (HDI).
- To forecast cancer burden for 2040 and evaluate cancer infrastructure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized GLOBOCAN 2020 data for 34 neoplasms in 54 African countries.
- Employed Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio (MIR) as a proxy for 5-year survival.
- Regressed cancer metrics (ASIR, ASMR, MIR) against Human Development Index (HDI).
Main Results:
- In 2020, Africa recorded 1.1 million new cancer cases and 711,429 deaths.
- Significant negative correlation found between HDI and MIR for all major cancer groups.
- HDI explained 75% of the variation in overall 5-year cancer survival.
- Cancer burden is projected to double by 2040.
Conclusions:
- High cancer mortality necessitates a comprehensive approach to cancer control.
- Strategies should include awareness, prevention, risk mitigation, infrastructure improvement, and timely treatment.
- Addressing socioeconomic disparities is crucial for improving cancer survival in Africa.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
470
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
470
02:18Cancer
50.0K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
50.0K
02:12What is Cancer?
11.3K
Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of...
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of...
11.3K
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
9.2K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
9.2K
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
13.2K
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
13.2K
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
5.1K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.1K