Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission

The number of cancer deaths per year in sub-Saharan Africa will almost double between 2020 and 2030, to about 1 million deaths per year, unless rapid interventions are implemented. This is according to a new report from the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. This commission of experts, including from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), describes the current burden of cancer in the region, presents a framework to plan enhancement of cancer research, and recommends key actions to reduce the growing cancer crisis. The report was published in The Lancet Oncology.

Recommended actions include developing or updating national cancer control plans in each country to address issues such as childhood cancer, managing comorbidities, supplies of medication, and provision of psychosocial, supportive, and palliative care. Cancer control plans should also engage traditional, complementary, and alternative medical practices, which are used by more than 80% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, and introduce pathways to reduce missed diagnoses and late referrals.

The authors of the report recognize the many current cancer control efforts in the region and state that more substantial investment is needed in developing cancer registries and cancer diagnostics. They also note that investments in, and increased adoption of, some approaches used during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as telehealth, can substantially improve cancer outcomes and lead to consequential cost savings over the next decade in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ngwa W, Addai B, Adewole I, Ainsworth V, Alaro J, Alatise OI, et al.
Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission
Lancet Oncol, Published online 10 May 2022;
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00720-8

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