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.

https://www.naij.com/500732-facts-cause-cancer-death-nigeria.html

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