Pancreatic Cancer in Nigeria: a Study of Incidence in O.A.U.T.H.C, Ile-Ife

Abstract

Cancer of the pancreas is one of the most rapidly fatal of all cancers and most cases are first recognized at a far advanced clinical stage. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 33,730 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2006 and 32,300 deaths. Only cancers of the lung, colon and breast cause more deaths than pancreatic cancer each year1. Over the last few decades, the study of pancreatic cancer has assumed a position of growing importance because of its increasing incidence and poor prognosis.
Approximately 170,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer or around 2.1% of all cancers occur worldwide every year 2.The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer in developed countries is approximately 1%

IFEMED Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2008: pp. 49-54