The most common cancers in Nigeria are breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, bowel cancer, and liver cancer. Breast cancer is the number one cancer among Nigerian women, peaking between ages 26-45. Risk factors for breast cancer include being overweight, genetics, high fat diets, smoking, and lower levels of education. Cervical cancer risk factors include HPV infection, which can be prevented through vaccination. Prostate cancer risks include high red meat consumption, age over 50, family history, and STDs. Bowel and liver cancers are associated with high fat diets, alcohol, lack of fruits and vegetables, overweight/obesity, and hepatitis B infection respectively. Regular screening and lifestyle changes including a healthy

1. CANCER AND ITS CAUSES
BY DR OLASIMBO DAVIDSON

2. MOST COMMON- BREAST CANCER
 According to LUTH statistics
(2007) the TOP 5 cancers in
Nigeria are also quite prevalent in
Europe, except that LUNG
CANCER is not common here :
 Breast CANCER is thus NO 1 in
Nigeria
 According to research, peak ages
are between 26 and 45 years

3. RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER
 OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY- LUTH researchers have found
higher incidents in women who are overweight or OBESE
 GENES- PRESENCE OF BRCA1 & BRCA2 genes- Hence the risk
is higher in those whose mothers, sisters had breast cancer
 High Fat diets have been linked to Breast cancer
prevalence
 SMOKING
 Women with lower levels of education tend to have more
incidents of breast cancer
 In many cases, no risk factors present- unexplained causes

4. TYPES OF HIGH FAT FOODS- what is
this???

5. HIGH FAT FOODS - FATTY BEEF,
LAMB, & PORK

6. HIGH FAT- FRIED POULTRY PARTS WITH
FATTY SKIN & BREADCRUMBS

7. OTHER HIGH FAT FOODS
HIGH FAT FOODS ARE LIKELY TO
BE FRIED
 FRIED POTATOES –CHIPS
 FRIED RIPE PLANTAINS
 SMALL CHOPS
 CAKES and MEAT PIES
 FRIED RICE
 FRIED FISH
 ANY TYPE OF FRIED EGGS
GOOD FATS ARE OKAY

8. CERVICAL CANCER – SECOND MOST
COMMON CANCER
 Cervical cancer used to be the leading cancer in the 90s
Now overtaken by BREAST cancer
 The CERVIX is located at the neck of the womb
 RISK FACTORS include HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS infections
 HPV infection is related to genital warts and is sexually
transmitted
 This is why there is now a VACCINE that protects against HPV
and Cervical cancer

9. THIRD MOST COMMON-PROSTATE
CANCER
PROSTATE CANCER
 PROSTATE CANCER can also
be quite advanced when it is
detected
 THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE that
its not there is to keep
checking one’s PSA levels
 THIS IS A SIMPLE LAB TEST
PROSTRATE CANCER AFFECTS
OLDER MEN

10. RISK FACTORS FOR PROSTATE CANCER
 NOT ALL CAUSES KNOWN
 HIGH RED MEAT CONSUMPTION
 AGE OVER 50 YEARS
 FAMILY LINKS
 STDs

11. 4TH MOST PREVALENT- BOWEL CANCER
 Bowel cancers are also associated with
 HIGH FAT DIET
 HIGH ALCOHOL INTAKE
 NOT EATING ENOUGH FRUITS & VEGETABLES
 OVERWEIGHT & OBESITY
 FAMILY GENES especially for intestinal growths
called polyps

12. WE ALL NEED 5 PORTIONS OF FRUIT A
DAY

13. 5TH MOST COMMON- LIVER CANCER
 Liver cancer is mostly caused by HEPATITIS B
VIRAL INFECTIONS- BLOOD borne virus
 RISK FACTORS- SEXUAL TRANSMISSION
 CONTAMINATION through blood transfusion
 Infection through sharing needles when abusing
drugs

14. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE-
Have regular check ups twice a year

15. WHAT TO CHECK
 PSA FOR MEN
 STOOL TEST FOR BLOOD TRACES IF AT RISK OF
BOWEL CANCER
 HEPATITIS B TEST. IF NEGATIVE GET VACCINATED
 PAP SMEAR FOR CERVICAL CANCER & VACCINE
for HPV
 MAMMOGRAM FOR WOMEN YEARLY
 CHECK YOUR WEIGHT AND BODY FAT

16. CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND DIET !!!!
 ABSTINENCE IS BEST FOR YOUNG SINGLES
 DON’T USE ORT ABUSE ILLEGAL DRUGS
 EAT 5 PORTIONS OF FRUIT SEVERTAL TIMES A WEEK
 EAT PLENTY OF VEGETABLES
 REDUCE HIGH FAT FOODS AND STARCH
 EXERCISE AND BE ACTIVE SO YOU CAN BURN OFF EXCESS FAT
 STOP PATRONIZING FAST FOODS ON A DAILY BASIS

17. THANKS FOR LISTENING- ANY
QUESTIONS??