Cancer the killer disease: Can we ever get rid of it?
Feb 04, 2009
Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years.. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income co
By Dr Anne Merriman
Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years.. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, including Africa.
“All countries can implement the four basic components of cancer control – prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and palliative care – and thus avoid, cure and care for many cancers, as well as palliating the suffering.
What does this mean in Uganda?
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the developed world where life expectancy is around 75 years and most people die in old age.
In Uganda our top ten causes of death are infections and our life expectancy is rising but has not yet reached 50. At Hospice Uganda the majority of our cancer patients are under 50 years of age and cancer can occur from birth to old age.
The Uganda population is estimated at 33.3 million for 2009. There are an estimated 33,300 new cases of cancer in 2009. An estimated 66,000 will be in need of care in 2009.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a multiplication of abnormal cells resulting in a tumour. This then passes to the rest of the body. It is due to a normal cell producing an abnormal cell which multiplies. Our bodies are reproducing cells all the time and occasionally abnormal cells are produced. When we are strong our bodies reject them and they die. If we have a lowered immunity due to a recent illness or a disease like HIV, or even as we get older our immunity is reduced, then the cell can multiply and cause cancer.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is being researched and new findings are coming up but the following have been related:
Smoking, viruses, diet, race, genetics and the environment.
Viruses found in Uganda are:
Hepatitis B related to cancer of the liver, human papilloma virus (HPV) is related to cancer of the cervix, our commonest cancer in Uganda today.
Burkitt’s tumour, a common cancer in children, was associated with malaria and later with Epstein Barr virus.
HIV/AIDS epidemic has increased the number of people with Kaposi’s sarcoma and some other cancers.
But we do not know one single cause.
How can I prevent myself getting cancer?
Avoiding risk behaviour for any of the above factors. However, living a healthy life style is recommended, but not absolute protection.
What can I do then to make sure cancer does not kill me?
- Early detection means vigilance:
If you value your life, you should report to a health worker if you discover an abnormal lump anywhere, or bleeding from any place for more than a few days.
- Women should examine their breasts regularly and seek help if there is any abnormal lump there.
- Women who bleed between their menses or after the menses have stopped at the menopause, should seek help immediately.
- Women who are sexually active should present for pap smears annually. These are becoming more available and free in most centres.
- Men from the age of 50 should present for regular checks for prostate cancer.
If you think you have or know you have cancer:
Seek out a health worker for referral to a treatment centre.
However there is only one centre at the moment for the comprehensive treatment of cancer. That is Mulago Hospital.
Here there is:
- Surgery in the general hospital,
- The Cancer Institute which provides chemotherapy, which are medications which kill off cancer cells
l- Radiotherapy Unit, which provides rays to kill off the cancer cells.
l- A Palliative care team which relates to home care services.
All these services charge nil or minimum fees, but the medication is not always available and the patient and family maybe asked to purchase it themselves. The Ministry of Health are working closely with treatment centres and palliative care for cancer patients and we hope to see more patients accessing all these areas in a few years time.
Some other hospitals in Uganda provide surgery, chemotherapy or palliative care.
Sadly most patients present too late for a cure. This is frequently due to poverty, or delay by seeking help from traditional healers first.
What is the answer for my relative suffering in the village?
- Expert care, including pain and symptom control, can be given in the home by palliative care services from Hospice Africa Uganda and some other services in Uganda.
This service is linked to the Community Volunteers, who are identified by the village, and trained by Hospice to identify needs, provide basic nursing care with the families, and refer to palliative care services who can visit in the home. There are services in 34 out of the original 56 districts so check with your own district if you have services or contact the Palliative Care Association of Uganda.
What is palliative care?
- Palliative care provides pain and symptom control and works with the patient and family in a holistic way. This includes social, cultural, spiritual and other issues. The palliative care person becomes a caring friend of the family and is available for consultation at any time.
Does it mean I am going to die when I commence palliative care?
- No. It has been seen that patients on palliative care have less pain and symptoms so sleep and eat better and therefore live longer.
Palliative care aims to bring our patients to peace with God and their loved ones.
For a comprehensive list of services please contact PCAU. Telephone: 0772587281
The writer is the director of Policy and International Programmes Hospice Africa Uganda and the vice president for East Africa; of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer
Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years.. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, including Africa.
“All countries can implement the four basic components of cancer control – prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and palliative care – and thus avoid, cure and care for many cancers, as well as palliating the suffering.
What does this mean in Uganda?
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the developed world where life expectancy is around 75 years and most people die in old age.
In Uganda our top ten causes of death are infections and our life expectancy is rising but has not yet reached 50. At Hospice Uganda the majority of our cancer patients are under 50 years of age and cancer can occur from birth to old age.
The Uganda population is estimated at 33.3 million for 2009. There are an estimated 33,300 new cases of cancer in 2009. An estimated 66,000 will be in need of care in 2009.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a multiplication of abnormal cells resulting in a tumour. This then passes to the rest of the body. It is due to a normal cell producing an abnormal cell which multiplies. Our bodies are reproducing cells all the time and occasionally abnormal cells are produced. When we are strong our bodies reject them and they die. If we have a lowered immunity due to a recent illness or a disease like HIV, or even as we get older our immunity is reduced, then the cell can multiply and cause cancer.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is being researched and new findings are coming up but the following have been related:
Smoking, viruses, diet, race, genetics and the environment.
Viruses found in Uganda are:
Hepatitis B related to cancer of the liver, human papilloma virus (HPV) is related to cancer of the cervix, our commonest cancer in Uganda today.
Burkitt’s tumour, a common cancer in children, was associated with malaria and later with Epstein Barr virus.
HIV/AIDS epidemic has increased the number of people with Kaposi’s sarcoma and some other cancers.
But we do not know one single cause.
How can I prevent myself getting cancer?
Avoiding risk behaviour for any of the above factors. However, living a healthy life style is recommended, but not absolute protection.
What can I do then to make sure cancer does not kill me?
- Early detection means vigilance:
If you value your life, you should report to a health worker if you discover an abnormal lump anywhere, or bleeding from any place for more than a few days.
- Women should examine their breasts regularly and seek help if there is any abnormal lump there.
- Women who bleed between their menses or after the menses have stopped at the menopause, should seek help immediately.
- Women who are sexually active should present for pap smears annually. These are becoming more available and free in most centres.
- Men from the age of 50 should present for regular checks for prostate cancer.
If you think you have or know you have cancer:
Seek out a health worker for referral to a treatment centre.
However there is only one centre at the moment for the comprehensive treatment of cancer. That is Mulago Hospital.
Here there is:
- Surgery in the general hospital,
- The Cancer Institute which provides chemotherapy, which are medications which kill off cancer cells
l- Radiotherapy Unit, which provides rays to kill off the cancer cells.
l- A Palliative care team which relates to home care services.
All these services charge nil or minimum fees, but the medication is not always available and the patient and family maybe asked to purchase it themselves. The Ministry of Health are working closely with treatment centres and palliative care for cancer patients and we hope to see more patients accessing all these areas in a few years time.
Some other hospitals in Uganda provide surgery, chemotherapy or palliative care.
Sadly most patients present too late for a cure. This is frequently due to poverty, or delay by seeking help from traditional healers first.
What is the answer for my relative suffering in the village?
- Expert care, including pain and symptom control, can be given in the home by palliative care services from Hospice Africa Uganda and some other services in Uganda.
This service is linked to the Community Volunteers, who are identified by the village, and trained by Hospice to identify needs, provide basic nursing care with the families, and refer to palliative care services who can visit in the home. There are services in 34 out of the original 56 districts so check with your own district if you have services or contact the Palliative Care Association of Uganda.
What is palliative care?
- Palliative care provides pain and symptom control and works with the patient and family in a holistic way. This includes social, cultural, spiritual and other issues. The palliative care person becomes a caring friend of the family and is available for consultation at any time.
Does it mean I am going to die when I commence palliative care?
- No. It has been seen that patients on palliative care have less pain and symptoms so sleep and eat better and therefore live longer.
Palliative care aims to bring our patients to peace with God and their loved ones.
For a comprehensive list of services please contact PCAU. Telephone: 0772587281
The writer is the director of Policy and International Programmes Hospice Africa Uganda and the vice president for East Africa; of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer