Everything you need to live well
For decades, infectious diseases led the
way in the number of deaths caused by ill-
health, especially in less developed
countries like Nigeria. These infectious
diseases have been contained in recent
years because of advances in medicine and
safer practices in agriculture and food
preparation. In their place is a surge in
non-communicable diseases like cancers
which are responsible for many deaths
particularly in the developed world.
According to the international agency for
research on cancer, GLOBOCAN, 2018 saw
18.1 million new cases of cancer and about
9.6 million deaths globally. In Nigeria, about
100,000 cancer diagnoses were made with
40,000 cancer-related deaths recorded in
2018, a ratio of 1 death in every 3 cancer
cases. While the numbers are similar in
males and females, there are some
variations in males and females.
Lung cancer is the leading type of cancer
diagnosed worldwide. It is the leading
cause of cancer-related deaths in both
s*xes – responsible for 11.6% of all cancer
cases diagnosed and 18.4% of all cancer
deaths. Of all new cancer cases diagnosed
in 2018, 8.6 million cases were seen in
women. Below are the commonest cancers
in women:
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer
While this is possible in men, more than
99% of all cases of breast cancers
diagnosed are in women. It totalled about
11.6% of all cancers diagnosed in 2018. It
is also the leading cause of cancer death
in women.
Genetic factors, early age at start of
menstruation, late age at cessation of
menstruation, having a few or no children
are thought to be the leading risk factors
for the development of breast cancer.
Colorectal Cancer
: Each 50-gram (1.8-ounce) portion of
processed meat eaten daily increases the
risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent,
according to the WHO PHOTO: AFP
With about 6.1% of all cancers diagnosed in
2018, it is present in both males and
females. Colorectal cancer is the
development of cancer in the lower end of
the digestive tract, the colon and the
rectum. It is greatly influenced by dietary
habits, obesity, smoking and physical
inactivity.
Lung Cancer
Worldwide, Lung cancer leads the way in
cancer cases and cancer-related deaths.
Over 80% of all lung cancer cases are
directly attributed to smoking. Symptoms
include: coughing, coughing up of blood,
and prolonged shortness of breath, among
others.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer Photo credit: cmr.com.au
A large percentage of cervical cancer
cases are caused by long term infection
with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is
transmitted s*xually. While it affects
s*xually active women all over the world, it
is commonest in the less-developed
regions of the world. It slowly develops
over the course of two decades with most
infections happening in late teenage years.
Having a high number of children, smoking,
poverty, being HIV+ are also risk factors
that may predispose one to cervical
cancer. There are effective screen
methods and vaccines for HPV, with a high
cure rate and survival with prompt and
proper treatment.
Thyroid Cancer
Globally, it is responsible for over 500,000
cases of cancer. Thyroid cancer is three
times more common in women than in
men. Although it is fairly common, it is
responsible for about 0.5% of all cancer
deaths in women.
Source:
guardian.ng/life/five-common-
cancers-affecting-women/
