'60% of local cancer cases HIV related'

ZIMBABWE continues to record a rapid increase in the number of new cancer cases and cancer related deaths, with about 60 percent of the cases HIV related, data from the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) has shown.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is responsible for 7,6 million deaths worldwide annually of which two thirds occur in low to middle income countries. Latest statistics from CAZ show a 58 percent increase in new cancer cases and a 77 percent increase in cancer related deaths over a period of eight years nationwide.

The period covered is from 2006 to 2013 and statistics from 2013 were only released recently, while data for 2014 and 2015 is still being collated. A total of 4 175 new cancer cases and 1 164 cancer related deaths were recorded in 2006 with the figures increasing over time to 6 548 new cases and 2 062 deaths recorded in 2013.

However, the most common cancer in Zimbabwe, according to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry (ZNCR), is cervical cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer related deaths, followed by Kaposi sarcoma, breast and prostate cancer.

Data from CAZ also showed that women are more affected by cancer than males with the former accounting for about 57 percent of the cases recorded nationally. This has been attributed to the high prevalence of female cancers such as cervical cancer. CAZ monitoring and evaluation officer Mr Lovemore Makurirofa said the available data may not necessarily reflect the situation on the ground as a number of cases were not being recorded.

Mr Makurirofa attributed the increase in cancer cases to a host of factors, chief among them lifestyle.

"The cancer situation is likely to be worse than what is depicted by these statistics because a lot of cases are not recorded and some people may even die of cancer before being diagnosed as they fail to afford the cost of diagnosis.

There are a number of causes of cancer. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is also responsible for increase in cases of cervical cancer. Lifestyle — increase in obesity and dietary patterns such as consumption of refined foods as opposed to traditional whole grain foods. Tobacco use also is responsible for some cancers," he said.

Mr Makurirofa was, however, quick to mention that cancer cases may also increase as a result of the improved knowledge of the disease, as more people now visit the hospital for diagnosis.

According to WHO, tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of cancer in the world, causing about 90 percent of all lung cancers and 20 percent of all cancers in developing countries.

Mr Makurirofa pointed out that 80 percent of the reported cancer cases are diagnosed late resulting in less chances of treatment success and high cost of treatment.

He commended efforts by Government and its partners to decentralise cervical cancer screening services, saying the move would go a long way in improving early detection and effective treatment of cancers in the country. Mr Makurirofa also called for sustainable financial resource mobilisation for comprehensive national cancer programmes, as well as extensive cancer education programmes to counter myths and misconceptions about cancer which he said were acting as barriers to cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.

He also called for subsidised cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services as well as improving the capacity of provincial and district public health institutions in cancer management.