Epidemiology of pediatric cancer in the Northwest Region of Cameroon

BackgroundThe epidemiological scale of cancer in Cameroon is still relatively unknown, as public health research in sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally focused on infectious and/or communicable disease. As awareness for chronic disease such as cancer has risen, so, too, have diagnoses and incidence. In order to ensure more effective care and quality of life for children at greater risk for cancer diagnoses, specific and effective research must be conducted in order to institute effective policy and protocols. ObjectiveTo comprehensively review all pediatric cancer cases seen in the Northwest Region of Cameroon in order to provide novel, current epidemiological data on pediatric cancer in the region. MethodsThe authors retrospectively reviewed each individual pediatric cancer case seen from January 1, 2016, through November 30, 2017, in the three largest hospitals in the Northwest Region of Cameroon: Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Bamenda Provincial Hospital, and Banso Baptist Hospital. Results173 cases of pediatric cancer were identified as being treated in one of the three hospitals in question over the 25-month study period. The average age of the patients was 6.23 years (SD = {+/-} 3.93), and 58.4% of the patients were male. The three most common types of cancer diagnosed in these pediatric patients were Burkitt lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and Wilms tumor. Of the 173 cases, 105 of the patients were originally from the Northwest Region. The incidence of pediatric cancer originating from the Northwest Region of Cameroon is 5.92 cases (95% CI: 4.79 - 7.05) per 100,000 persons per year. ConclusionThis study is the first extensive examination of pediatric cancer epidemiology in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Children in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by cancer in comparison with their counterparts in the developed world. As the body of literature continues to grow in the years to come, more effective care both preventive and curative can affect the lives of millions.