Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

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Volume 24

April - June 2008 (Part-I)

Number  2


 

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Colorectal Carcinoma in West Africans:
Some considerations on its relatively lower
incidence compared to Caucasians

D.O. Irabor1

SUMMARY

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum is about the 2nd commonest cancer in the developed (western) world; however in developing countries especially West Africa it has not yet reached such magnitude. This suggests that there may be factors either anthropomorphic or environmental which may be responsible for this. The paper acknowledges the reduced incidence of colorectal cancer in native West Africans living in Africa and endeavors to highlight the various factors that produce this observation in medical literature. A compelling search through available literature on the aetiology, epidemiology and comparative anthropology of colorectal cancer was done. Internet search using Pubmed, British library online and Google scholar was also utilized. The rarity of adenomatous polyposis syndromes in the native West African contributes to the reduced incidence of colorectal cancer. Cancer prevention and cancer-protective factors are deemed to lie in the starchy, high-fiber, spicy, peppery foodstuff low in animal protein which many West African nations consume. Lactose intolerance which many black races have is also suggested to be protective, likewise exposure to sunlight and physical activity.

The natural geographical location which ensures all-year-round sunshine, avoidance of western-type diet and rarity of polyposis coli syndromes may continue to keep the rates of colorectal cancer down (when compared to Caucasians) in the native West African.

KEY WORDS: Colorectal Cancer, West Africans, Dietary habits.

Pak J Med Sci    April - June 2008 (Part-I)    Vol. 24 No. 2    331-335


1. Dr. D.O. Irabor, FWACS.
Senior Lecturer,
Department Of Surgery,
College Of Medicine,
University Of Ibadan,
Nigeria.

Correspondence:

Dr. D.O. Irabor,
Surgery Department,
University College Hospital,
P.M.B. 5116 Ibadan, Nigeria.
E-mail: dirabor@comui.edu.ng

* Received for Publication: December 18, 2007
* Revision Received: February 11, 2008
* Revision Accepted: February 14, 2008



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