Lung cancer high in both women and men
Sep 12, 2011
CASES of lung cancer are on the increase in both women and men in old age, this is according to Kampala cancer registrar Henry Wabinga. He said that the incidence of cancer of lungs since 1954 is now four –folds in increase and this is both in women and men.
By Violet Nabatanzi
CASES of lung cancer are on the increase in both women and men in old age, this is according to Kampala cancer registrar Henry Wabinga. He said that the incidence of cancer of lungs since 1954 is now four –folds in increase and this is both in women and men.
“Incidences of lung cancer are more common in the elderly people those above 50 years, that is where we have seen the marked increase in both sex,†he said during a scientific workshop at hotel Africana in Kampala.
He said that, although majority of women don’t smoke cigarettes however smoke from fire wood may be the leading cause of lung cancer in them, because they spend a lot of time in kitchen.
Wabinga also attributed the increased number of cases to Tobacco smoking and high number of old people in the communities. Other causes are pollution and vehicle fumes.
“Uganda imports about 1000 vehicles a month and most of them are second and third hand and because they are old vehicles the fumes they produce in the engine are excess from the normal,†he added.
Annually 30 to 40 cancer patients are admitted at Mulago’s cancer institute and Tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of deaths.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, 10 million people will die of tobacco related illness, 70% of these deaths occurring in developing countries like Uganda.
While Launching the Uganda Thoracic society, Health state minister in charge of general duties Richard Nduhura said government is committed to supporting the organization to eliminate respiratory infections.
Some of Thoracic diseases include Asthma, Lung cancer, Pleural effusion and unusual presentations of tuberculosis among others.
“Through this society it is very easy to mobilize and educate our people to avoid some of these diseases, some people don’t know how tuberculosis is spread,†Nduhura said.
CASES of lung cancer are on the increase in both women and men in old age, this is according to Kampala cancer registrar Henry Wabinga. He said that the incidence of cancer of lungs since 1954 is now four –folds in increase and this is both in women and men.
“Incidences of lung cancer are more common in the elderly people those above 50 years, that is where we have seen the marked increase in both sex,†he said during a scientific workshop at hotel Africana in Kampala.
He said that, although majority of women don’t smoke cigarettes however smoke from fire wood may be the leading cause of lung cancer in them, because they spend a lot of time in kitchen.
Wabinga also attributed the increased number of cases to Tobacco smoking and high number of old people in the communities. Other causes are pollution and vehicle fumes.
“Uganda imports about 1000 vehicles a month and most of them are second and third hand and because they are old vehicles the fumes they produce in the engine are excess from the normal,†he added.
Annually 30 to 40 cancer patients are admitted at Mulago’s cancer institute and Tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of deaths.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, 10 million people will die of tobacco related illness, 70% of these deaths occurring in developing countries like Uganda.
While Launching the Uganda Thoracic society, Health state minister in charge of general duties Richard Nduhura said government is committed to supporting the organization to eliminate respiratory infections.
Some of Thoracic diseases include Asthma, Lung cancer, Pleural effusion and unusual presentations of tuberculosis among others.
“Through this society it is very easy to mobilize and educate our people to avoid some of these diseases, some people don’t know how tuberculosis is spread,†Nduhura said.