Cancer is on the increase in Mauritius. It’s only when it affects someone of a high profile that we learn about its dangerous impact on our society.

Every year the National Cancer Registry registers 2 000 new cases of cancer. There are hundreds of Mauritians who die of cancer annually. Women are more vulnerable by this sickness in Mauritius. 60% of the cases of cancer are recorded amongst women.

This tendency is explained by the fact that breast cancer is the most common cancer and it is spreading in this country. The number of new cases of breast cancer went from 269 in 2008 to reach 432 in 2011. For the same period, the number of cancer went from 746 to 1 144 for women and from 538 to 773 for men.

The other types of cancer which are spreading and becoming more common in our country, are cancer of the intestine, of the prostate gland, of the cervix, of the lungs. Cancer of the blood, known as leukemia, and lymphoma are also increasing in Mauritius. From 2008 to 2011, 140 cases of leukemia were recorded among men and 119 among women. As for lymphoma, 150 men and 110 women were diagnosed during the same period.

From 2008 to 2011, 38 cases of cancer of the throat were registered, among which 31 were men. As for oral cancer (lips, mouth, tongue, pharynx and others), it has affected 249 men and 111 women. Moreover, the health experts have said that the rate of cancer across the world is going up.

“The situation is certainly alarming in other countries. There are fewer cases of cancer in Mauritius than in other countries such as France, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, South Africa, China, Malaysia, for example. There is no need to be alarmed. However, breast cancer should preoccupy us because the tendency is quasi-epidemic,” said Dr ShyamManraj. He is the consultant incharge of the Pathological Servicesat the Central Laboratory at Candos.The main factors associatedwith cancer are obesity, tobacco,alcohol, lack of physical exerciseand old age.

The National Cancer Registry has also done a study on cancer in certain areas. It has shown that new cases of cancer have been registered mainly to those inhabitants of Plaine Wilhems, 35,7% followed by Port-Louis, 13,5%, which shows the “urbanization” of cancer. Is this the result of air-pollution? Is it the mode of life of the inhabitants of cities? “Difficult tosay,” replied Dr Manraj. He said that this phenomenon does not only affect Mauritius but several other countries. The high level rate of cancer is a world matter. The cost involved to treat cancer patients is very high. Many individuals cannot afford to have private treatment. Therefore they have to rely on the government to treat them in hospitals.

There is, therefore, an urgent need for immediate setting up of at least one hospital which can focus on the treatment of cancer. To treat a cancer patient in a general hospital is very inappropriate. The government is therefore requested to take immediate action to convert one of our hospitals into a specialized cancer hospital.

Maybe, it would not be out of place to suggest the conversion of the MedPoint Clinic into one specializing in cancer treatment. The size and the location of the Med Point clinic seem suitable and appropriate.