Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with an estimated two million diagnoses and 1.8 million deaths annually. According to the Global Cancer Observatory 2020, the incidence of lung cancer in various regions of Africa is as follows: South Africa is 27.5 and 9.3, North Africa is 19.3 and 3.5, East Africa 4.2 and 3.0, Middle Africa 3.4 and 1.8, and West Africa is 2.8 and 1.8 all per 100,000 for males and females, respectively.
African cluster country president at AstraZeneca, Deepak Arora, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that over 90 per cent of cases in Africa is diagnosed at a late stage, adding that early detection through regular screening can significantly improve these grim statistics.
Arora said AstraZeneca is committed to enhancing health outcomes for lung cancer patients through initiatives that support prevention, early detection and patient advocacy and aims to ensure that advanced treatments are accessible to all who need them.
