Preventing cancer through lifestyle modification: An essential strategy for primary care physicians in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have poor health infrastructure, low health budgets, carry poor health status and fall under low and middle income countries of the World Bank classification. Cancer is threatening to wipe out the gains made by the taming of common diseases like Malaria/HIV/TB in SSA  countries with its rising prevalence.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to highlight the burden of cancers in SSA, identify cancer modifiable risk factors; andprovide evidence-based lifestyle  modification interventions at the disposal of Primary care clinicians.

Methods: This narrative review searched such databases as PubMed, Google,  African Journals online and identified articles in English that address cancer epidemiology in SSA. It analyzed relevant articles and identified cancer modifiable risk factors and preventive strategies.

Results: Cancer burden in SSA countries is rising and poverty does not allow the countries to adequately match health needs withresources. The ten most common cancers include Cervical, Breast, Prostate, Liver, Kaposis Sarcoma, Esophageal, Colorectal, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Stomach and Lung cancers. Common modifiable risk factors for these cancers are viral, bacterial and  helminthic infections; tobacco use, poor dietary habits, obesity, environmental contaminants, alcohol use and being sedentary. These cancers are amenable to a triad of  immunization, prompt treatment of specific infectious diseases and lifestyle modification.

Conclusion: The burden of Cancer in SSA is on the rise with about 33% of the  disease linked to treatable infections. Primary care Physicians could substantially control the disease using a triad approach comprising immunization, early treatment of specific infections and appropriate deployment of lifestyle modification interventions deployment of lifestyle modification intervention