Uganda Alliance of Patients' Organisations (UAPO)

Cancer Attacks Africa! In Uganda, cancer is a significant health concern with rising incidence and mortality rates. The country faces challenges in cancer care due to limited resources, inefficiencies in the healthcare system, and socioeconomic factors impacting access to treatment. 

Cancer incidence in Uganda is estimated to have increased from 27,410 new cases in 2012 to 35,968 in 2022, according to BMC Cancer. Cancer-related deaths have also increased, from 17,120 in 2012 to 24,629 in 2022, according to BMC Cancer. Cervical and breast cancers are the most common among women, while prostate cancer is the most prevalent among men. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) registers approximately 36,000 new cancer cases annually. A significant number of patients, estimated to be around 7,400, seek care at the UCI each year.

In 2022, an estimated 6,959 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,607 died from the disease. Breast cancer is another significant concern, with high mortality rates among Ugandan women. Many women are diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer, making treatment more challenging and reducing survival rates. Increasing access to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment is crucial to improving outcomes.

Uganda has a breast cancer age-standardized incidence and mortality rate of 21.3 per 100,000 population and 10.3 per 100,000 population, respectively. The majority of women in Uganda, a low-income country, are diagnosed at stage III or stage IV, when breast cancer is more difficult to treat, and the outcome of survival is significantly lower.

Therefore, we must increase the accommodations for early detection of breast cancer survival statistics through early diagnosis or screening programs. It’s beneficial to enhance access to care, timely diagnosis, and breast cancer treatment.