NEWS: Uganda’s lung cancer cases rise

from NEW VISION


Uganda’s lung cancer cases rise

LUNG cancer in Uganda has increased by ten-folds, according to the latest reports from the Uganda Cancer Institute. The 1970’s records show that there were about 10 patients that would be diagnosed with cancer, annually. There are now 30 to 40 patients admitted at the institute in Mulago, annually. Lung cancer; is just one of diseases caused by tobacco smoking and chewing, of which Dr. Margaret Mungherera, a consultant, says are on the increase. She explains that most of the people dying of lung cancer in Uganda are always in their prime productive years. Tobacco, according to the Uganda Heart Institute, is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of deaths. Mungherera said this during the ‘Tobacco Usage Fight’ workshop, organised by Uganda Health Communication Alliance, at Hotel Triangle in Kampala on Wednesday. She said treatment of tobacco related diseases is too expensive, adding that it costs approximately $5,000 (about sh10m) to treat one patient every year. There are 30-40 lung cancer patients receiving care from the Institute, a cost of sh300m to sh400m, annually. Treatment in South Africa costs about $15,000 (about sh30m), per patient. The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030, 10 million people will die of tobacco related illness, 70% of these deaths occurring in developing countries like Uganda. A survey conducted in the Department of Oral Surgery at Mulago found that 70% of the victims of cancer of the mouth had a history of smoking.