Cancer in Africa, 2022: Incidence, Mortality, and Age-Patterned Fatality From GLOBOCAN Across 36 Cancer Types

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer poses a significant health burden in Africa.
• Understanding cancer incidence and mortality patterns is crucial for effective control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze cancer incidence, mortality, and mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) across African countries in 2022.
• To stratify data by age groups and identify high-burden countries for targeted cancer control planning.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates.
• Calculation of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and mortality rates (ASMR).
• Application of age bands (0-19, 20-44, 45-69, ≥70 years) and country concentration curves to identify burden distribution.

Main Results:

• Over 1.15 million new cancer cases and 754,000 deaths were estimated in Africa in 2022.
• Breast, cervix uteri, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers were most common; liver, lung, cervix uteri, breast, and stomach cancers caused the most deaths.
• Cancer burden was concentrated in 15 countries, accounting for approximately 80% of incident cases.
• Mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) increased with age, peaking in individuals aged 70 and above.
• Specific cancer types like liver, lung, stomach, and brain/CNS cancers showed consistently high MIRs.
• Cancer profiles varied by age, with hematologic cancers prevalent in younger populations and breast, cervix, prostate, and colorectal cancers in adults.

Conclusions:

• Cancer mortality in Africa is substantial, escalates with age, and is geographically concentrated.
• Age-specific and country-level analyses are vital for prioritizing interventions such as HPV and Hepatitis B vaccination, tobacco control, and essential oncology services in high-burden areas.