Study: Africa’s cancer crisis deepens as cases surge 229%

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The cancer burden in Africa is large and growing, with rising cases and deaths exposing major gaps in prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment, according to a new study published in The Lancet Oncology.

The study, based on Global Burden of Disease 2023 data, found that cancer cases increased by 229 per cent between 1990 and 2023, rising from an estimated 467,000 cases to 1.54 million. In 2023, cancer was linked to about 923,000 deaths and 33.94 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

DALYs measure years of healthy life lost because of illness, disability or premature death.