Collection

Cancer in Africa

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Cancer rates are rising rapidly in Africa and this concerning trend is set to become more pronounced over time. The coming decades are forecast to be a time of unprecedented population growth and this, coupled with aging, will present profound challenges for public health in limited-resource settings in Africa. Effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer requires massive investment and, despite its increasing prevalence, cancer in Africa has so far not been prioritized in terms of funding and development when compared to other diseases. Some risk factors associated with cancer in the developed world (e.g., obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption) are much less common throughout many regions of Africa, suggesting other factors are driving increases in cancer rates. Unfortunately, those risk factors common to developed countries are nonetheless on the rise in many African countries. This collection of articles explores the prevalence of cancer in Africa, the unique challenges faced, and the ways we can address it.

Articles (9 in this collection)