“CANCER KILLS MORE THAN HIV, MALARIA &
TUBERCULOSIS; EARLY DETECTION & TIMELY TREATMENT SAVE LIVES.
In
2022, the global cancer community commemorated the International Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helped to attract
attention to, and awareness about, the disease. The event also emphasized on,
early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease with
the theme: “CLOSE THE CARE GAP” is for us to recognize that our commitment to
act will lead to powerful progress in reducing the global impact of cancer. All
the hundreds of activities organized on International Breast Cancer Awareness Month happen
in almost every corner of the globe. International Breast Cancer Awareness Month has
become one of the most amplified and impactful global platforms for all cancer
patients and advocates - a platform where we can all make a lot of
noise, by way of reminding all that we can win the war on cancer.
Scientific
update has it that Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally.
Cancer scenario in Nigeria reveals that about 500,000 new cases are diagnosed
every year, and that it kills over 250,000 people annually in Nigeria. It is
further said that Cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM)
combined (WHO 2006a, 2006b). However, medical experts have continuously
advocated early detection, regular awareness creation, timely screening,
vaccination and treatment as major interventions against the disease.
The
Civil Society for CANCER Eradication in Nigeria (CiSCANEN), and other key
stakeholders in the response to cancer in the Plateau State hereby urges
everyone to join this campaign and commit to strengthening CiSCANEN activities
for qualitative achievement, in the areas of screening, early detection,
treatment and palliative care.
The
primary goal of International Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to significantly reduce illness and death
caused by cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international
community to end the menace of preventable suffering from breast cancer.
Globally, there are an estimated 20 million new cases of cancer and 10 million deaths from cancer. The cancer burden will increase by approximately 60% over the next two decades, further straining health systems, people and communities. The predicted global burden will increase to about 30 million new cancer cases by 2040, with the greatest increases occurring in low and middle-income countries.
On January 17, 2024, the American Cancer
Society (ACS) released their Cancer Facts & Figures in their 2024 report,
which provides nationwide and state-specific estimates of new cancer cases and
deaths for the current year. This year's data includes a sobering
milestone--this is the first year the U.S. expects to surpass 2 million new
cases of cancer. Researchers attribute this trend to aging and growth in the
population as well as a rise in diagnoses of 6 of the 10 most common cancers
(breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, kidney and melanoma cancers).
Another significant finding in the 2024 report is that people are increasingly being diagnosed with cancer in their youthful age. The incidence of colorectal cancer in adults younger than 50 has increased as well as the breast cancer mortality rate for women under age 50. Additionally, racial disparities in cancer cases remain. Although advances in early detection and cancer treatment have decreased death rates, not everyone has benefitted from these advances equally. Barriers are significantly greater in minority communities than in white communities. Disparities are also prevalent in the LGBTQ+ communities. The 2024 report includes a special section which explores the distinct challenges LGBTQ+ people face.
The good news, however, is that Cancer can be prevented
and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention,
screening and early detection, treatment and palliative care. The most common
modifiable risk factors for cancer, which are shared with many other
non-communicable diseases, are Tobacco
use, Low fruit and vegetable
intake, Harmful use of alcohol, Lack of physical activity, age
or race, and obesity. Some preventive measures include exercise (physical
activity helps combat obesity and lower the risk of breast cancer), avoidance
of sugary drinks, and reduced
consumption of energy-dense foods and processed foods, reduced intake of red
meats (such as beef, pork, and lamb) and avoidance of processed meats,”
One third to one half of cancer cases could be
prevented by reducing the prevalence of known risk factors. Examples of
actionable interventions are tobacco control and lifestyles. The most effective
primary prevention of breast cancer is based wholly on government approaches,
with legislation, regulation and fiscal policies combined with activities to
change community and individual behaviour. Public health messages and health
promotion should present evidence on specific risk factors.
To tackle this important determinant of gender and socioeconomic inequalities, In March 2021, the World Health Organization introduced the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, aiming to reduce the burden of breast cancer, the most frequent cancer in women globally and in the American region.
The initiative aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year, thus averting an estimated 2.5 million deaths by 2040. In 2020 there were nearly 500,000 new breast cancer cases and over 100,000 breast cancer deaths in the Americas. If successful, nearly 480,000 breast cancer deaths would be averted in the Americas region alone during the 20-year period. Activities for the initiative will focus on three pillars: Health promotion, Timely diagnosis, and Comprehensive treatment including supportive care
The Civil Society for Cancer
Eradication in Nigeria (CiSCANEN), Plateau State chapter has been able to
organize a one-day capacity building workshop, with a total of 224 (122 Male,
102 Female) members on basic facts of cancer and demanded creation on cancer
education and 480 (male-390 and female- 90) members of the National Association
of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Plateau State Chapter
sharing experiences on the medical aspect of cancer treatment and care.
A
total of 24,123 (female= 15,264 and male 8,859) people (market men & women, NANTMP members, students,
workplaces and the general public) in Plateau have been reached since
2016.
Lastly,
CiCANEN, The Government of Nigeria, through the
National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), successfully launched
the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 16 phase 1 states in October 2023.
The introduction saw a successful turnout. Nigeria met its target coverage rate
in most states with strong multispectral collaborations across relevant
stakeholders such as Faith-based organizations, line ministries, education
institutions, parents/guardians, community/traditional leaders, and other
priority groups. The HPV vaccine offers significant value in the prevention of
cervical cancer and related diseases.
HPV vaccination commenced a multi-age-cohort (MAC) campaign targeting girls
aged 9-14 through school and community-based outreach and mobile strategies.
After the successful introduction, the vaccine has been routinized and made
available for adolescent girls who missed out during the campaign. While
Plateau state takes its turn on the HPV vaccine campaign with other 20 states
in phase2, Lessons learned from the phase1 introduction from the 16 states show
the need to comprehensively engage and collaborate with the plateau key
stakeholders at all levels and pre-sensitize communities to inoculate them
against myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccine, we therefore call on all the key stakeholders
(government, religious/traditional/community leaders) to rally round and give
their maximum support for a successful exercise which will significantly reduce
the incidences of cervical cancer among our young and adolescent girls
In
conclusion, Every
Action Counts as the World Cancer Day is a truly global event. In order to
achieve the objective of reaching as much of the world’s population as
possible, your help is needed, whether you do something as large as running
your own World Cancer Day campaign, or as simple as sharing our template
messages amongst your media networks and organizations, every action has an
impact. Show the world that we can win the war on cancer. Get involved in the
fight against cancer.
We appreciate that everyone
supporting the Day has different needs and priorities, so there are a wide
variety of ways to get involved and to also take advantage of the numerous
vegetables and fruits we have on the Plateau: cabbage, carrots, fresh tomatoes,
cucumber, green pepper, mangoes etc which serves as diets for cancer patients.
As we jointly participate in fighting cancer, it is hoped that the disease will
be reduced to the barest minimum.
Submission on 2024, World
Cancer Day with the theme “CLOSE THE CARE GAP” BY:
Tokbish
Yohanna Mizak,
Deputy
National Coordinator/Plateau State Coordinator,
The
Civil Society for CANCER Eradication in Nigeria (CiSCANEN),
Email-
tokbishy@gmail.com.........
08036788777, 09035334480
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