The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
(CECP-Nigeria), a non-governmental organisation has
described liver cancer as the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by Dr Abia Nzelu, executive
secretary, CECP, released on Monday in Abuja to
commemorate the 2015 World Hepatitis Day coming up
today.
Nzelu said Infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C ( HCV) is
the main cause of liver cancer with viral Hepatitis causing 80
per cent of liver cancer deaths.
”In Nigeria, liver cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer death, accounting for over 11,000 deaths yearly and
32 deaths every day.
The leading cause of liver cancer is cirrhosis, damage of liver
cells and replacement with scar tissue, due to either HBV,
HCV, or chronic alcoholism.
”In 2013, about 300,000 deaths recorded from liver cancer
were due to hepatitis B, 343,000 to hepatitis C and 92,000 to
alcohol.’’
Nzelu said that liver cancer was rare in children and
teenagers noting that liver cancer was more common in
men with a male to female ratio of about two to one.
According to her, the average age of occurrence in Nigeria is
about 46 years as compared to the developed world where
the average age of occurrence is the mid 60s.
In the statement, Nzelu said that viral hepatitis was
inflammation of the liver caused by a group of virus known
as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
”The liver is the largest internal organ, an indispensible
organ with several important functions including break
down and storage of many of the nutrients absorbed from
the intestine.
”It also helps in the production of most of the clotting factors
that prevent excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries;
release of bile into the intestines to help absorb nutrients.
”It also functions in the removal of harmful substances from
the blood,”she said.
According to her, viral hepatitis, which is one of the most
communicable diseases in the world, is spread through
contaminated blood, intravenous drug abuse and sexual
contact with an infected person.
She explained that in highly endemic areas like sub-Saharan
Africa and Asia, hepatitis B is most commonly spread from
mother to child at birth (perinatal transmission).
She said infection can occur during medical, surgical and
dental procedures, tattooing, or through the use of razors
and similar objects that are contaminated with infected
blood.
Nzelu said that the survival rate from liver cancer was poor
because liver cancer progressed rapidly and treatment
options were limited, thus, prevention was the key to
reducing liver cancer deaths.
”One of the most successful ways of preventing liver cancer
is by vaccination against hepatitis B; this vaccine has been
available since 1982 and the first dose is now being given at
birth.
”The vaccine is safe and effective, protecting people from
HBV infection for life and the development of chronic
disease and liver cancer due to HBV; vaccination for HCV is
currently unavailable.
”However, antiviral medicines can cure HCV infection with
other ways of preventing it including limiting transmission of
viruses by avoiding sharing of needles and other items such
as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors.’’
The statement also identified avoiding getting tattoos or
body piercings from unlicensed facilities and screening of
blood donation products as ways of getting hepatitis.
Safer sex practices, including minimising the number of
partners and using barrier protective measures such as
condoms, could also protect against the transmission.
According to her, reducing alcohol abuse, obesity, and
diabetes will also reduce rates of liver cancer and treatment
with drugs, including oral antiviral agents can decrease the
risk of liver cancer.
She emphasised that screening and early diagnosis could
prevent health problems that could result from viral
hepatitis infection and prevent transmission of the virus..
