Introduction
Cancer remains a major public health challenge in Cameroon, where the mortality rate exceeds 65% of diagnosed cases. A silent scourge, it strikes indiscriminately, with breast cancer at the top, followed by cervical and prostate cancers. However, treatment remains hampered by various obstacles including late diagnosis, insufficient specialized medical infrastructure, exorbitant treatment costs and adequate psychological support for patients and their families. This article deciphers the difficult journey of patients, from the first alert to survival, and highlights the urgency of a more appropriate health policy.
The Growing Burden of Cancer in Cameroon
According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, nearly 19,564 new cases were diagnosed in the country, with 12,798 cancer-related deaths for a population of 31 million inhabitants. These figures represent approximately 2% of those in the entire sub-Saharan zone, which is quite alarming. Among the most common cancers, breast cancer comes first, followed by cervical cancer and prostate cancer, also the main causes of cancer-related mortality in the country. But why such an explosion in cases? Genetic, environmental, lifestyle factors; all of these elements play a determining role. This is therefore a health emergency that must be addressed.
Obstacles to Early Diagnosis
Detecting cancer at an early stage can make all the difference. However, in Cameroon, about 90% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often at stage 4, when the chances of survival are dramatically reduced. The causes are a glaring lack of information, because many people do not know how to recognize the warning signs. Some causes include low economic power, with about 67% of health expenses paid directly by households, lack of suitable equipment for analysing samples obtained during some health campaigns, and cultural and social beliefs, cancer being perceived by some communities as an ancestral curse, a spiritual punishment or the fruit of a transgression. As a result, patients consult too late, generally when the disease has already metastasized.
The Psychological and Social Impact on Patients
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is an ordeal, as is accessing quality treatment for people with modest incomes. The very idea of the disease evokes an implacable sentence, fuelling a dull emotional distress. Between the heavy treatments, the pain and the wait for medical results, anxiety and depression set in, transforming the physical fight into a psychological battle. But beyond this psychological suffering, cancer is financially ruinous. Treatment costs a fortune, forcing some patients to exhaust all their savings, get into debt or seek help from already weakened relatives. And when the disease prevents them from working, an entire family staggers under the weight of overwhelming medical bills and increasing precariousness. In addition, psychological support is almost non-existent. Unable to find a place in the already busy schedule of one of the few available psychiatrists/psychologists or to contact NGOs, each patient faces the disease alone.
Efforts to Improve Cancer Care in Cameroon
Faced with the scale of the crisis, awareness campaigns, screening programs and initiatives aimed at improving the health system are being put in place. In 1990, the Minister of Public Health created the National Cancer Control Committee (CNLCa), with the mission of reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality while limiting its socio-economic impact. On the ground, public hospitals and private clinics offer cervical cancer screening and treatment in some cities. The support of international organizations is also helping to gradually improve treatment infrastructure. However, the road ahead is long, as there is still a significant shortage of qualified human resources.
Recommendations for a Better Future
Given the colossal challenges of cancer care in Cameroon, concrete and coordinated actions are essential to reverse the trend. Here are some indications: strengthen awareness and education, improve access to screening and treatment, increase the number of screening centers and equipment, modernize healthcare infrastructure and set up a national cancer registry, support the training of oncologists and specialized staff, with incentives to prevent the exodus of professionals to other countries, and integrate better psychological and social support for patients and their families
Conclusion
The fight against cancer in Cameroon is multidimensional and is not limited to medical care. Despite this, deep reforms and targeted actions are essential to make it a real national priority and lead to the efficient involvement of all.
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