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Infection-Related Cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Despite the increasing effects of regional urbanisation in most of sub-Saharan Africa, infection still remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and it accounts for 30% of all cancers in the region. The young are more commonly affected compared to the older age group in developed countries. Viruses are the most implicated organisms, and the prevalence of HIV in the sub-region has emerged as a major co-factor in cancer development. As most of these infections are preventable, the use of vaccines against carcinogenic infections has proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of majority of these group of cancers. Additionally, early detection and targeted intervention have significantly reduced the burden of infection-related cancers worldwide. While these programs have been successfully incorporated into the health care systems of industrialised nations, limited resources and a lack of tangible indicators of success have limited their effective implementation in sub-Saharan Africa. Measures aimed at increasing awareness of these cancers, effective progress evaluation, and policy-driven prioritisation of cancer prevention and treatment in the sub-region will effectively reduce their incidence and associated morbidity and mortality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Martin Nnaji MBBS, FRCS

  2. Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Olufunso Adebola Adedeji MBBS, MD, FRCSEd

  3. Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Olufunso Adebola Adedeji MBBS, MD, FRCSEd

  4. Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK

    Olajumoke Sule MBChB, FRCPath

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  1. Martin Nnaji MBBS, FRCS
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  2. Olufunso Adebola Adedeji MBBS, MD, FRCSEd
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  3. Olajumoke Sule MBChB, FRCPath
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Correspondence to Martin Nnaji MBBS, FRCS .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Olufunso Adebola Adedeji

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Nnaji, M., Adedeji, O.A., Sule, O. (2017). Infection-Related Cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Adedeji, O. (eds) Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52554-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52554-9_3

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