South Africa’s rising tide of cancer diagnosis rates
This article examines the complexities behind rising cancer diagnosis rates in South Africa, noting that demographic shifts like an ageing population are significant drivers. It highlights that while some cancers are declining due to vaccination, others are increasing due to lifestyle changes associated with urbanization.
Why it matters
Understanding the nuances of cancer data is critical for public health policy and resource allocation in developing nations.
It isn’t always easy to know what to believe when it comes to cancer. In the Daily Maverick and Spotlight special series on cancer, Biénne Huisman asks whether cases are on the increase in South Africa, and if so, why.
One doesn’t have to look far on social media for scare stories about increasing cancer rates. While there are some wildly inaccurate claims, there are also several reliable sources sounding the alarm.
The picture is complicated. To start with, different cancers are on different epidemiological trajectories. On the one hand, cervical cancer rates are expected to decline due to HPV vaccination, while colorectal cancer rates in younger people appear to be increasing. Throwing all cancers together obscures such nuances.
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