African Cancer Organisation

..more controls, less cancer

The African Cancer Organisation (ACO) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian voluntary cancer organization formed to control cancer and its effects on the African continent.

ACO is dedicated to reducing the impact of cancer in Africa through the provision of effective and feasible public awareness interventions aimed at reducing cancer incidence, suffering and mortality.

The vision of ACO is to increase cancer awareness about primary prevention and early detection in a bid to phase out the currently prevailing advanced stages of cancers in Africa.

19.3m

Globally, 19.3 million new cancers are recorded every year

10m

10 million deaths occur every year

THE CANCER BURDEN

The global cancer burden is growing and shifting rapidly. The most rapid rise in incidence is observed in developing and low-income countries, where cancer risk historically has been considerably lower.

The increasing cancer incidence in Africa and other emerging economies is widely considered as a result of the westernization of lifestyles –unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, environmental pollution, and infectious agents.

In 2020, cancer accounted for 10 million deaths globally, more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

About 70% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries where resources for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent, where governments are least prepared to address the growing cancer burden and survival rates are often low.

More than two-thirds of cancers diagnosed in Africa are locally advanced where cure is often impossible. Thus majority of cancer cases present to the hospitals with late stages where cure is often impossible but pain control is the only treatment option. Those who die from cancers normally leave behind orphans. In addition, the combined effects of cancer, poverty, deprivation and infectious diseases hinder the development of a sustainable population and consequently a sustainable future.

The result of the rising high incidence of cancer in developing world coupled with inadequate resources for prevention, early detection and treatment programs, cancer has become an important cause of premature deaths and suffering in these less developed parts of the world.

Furthermore, it is projected that the incidence of cancer in developing countries will continue to increase with further westernization. By 2040, more than two-thirds of new cancer cases will be in low- and middle-income countries, where survival rates are currently the lowest.

1 in 6

1 in 6 men and 1 in 8 women develop cancer in a lifetime

1 in 8

1 in 8 men and 1 in 11 women die from cancer

OPERATIONS

Cancer Prevention

ACO prevent people from getting exposed to avoidable cancer risk factors and also downstage cancers by early-detecting the disease at stages where cure is often possible. We ensure that cancer information is available to everyone and those who are eligible for screening can take advantage of existing screening opportunities.

Cancer Research

ACO promote the establishment of national population-based cancer registries to collect, store and analyze data on persons with cancer in order to provide essential information on the incidence, prevalence, trends, mortality, and survival rates which is required to help develop a realistic and sustainable cancer control plan.

Cancer Advocacy

ACO forge stronger linkages between individuals, organizations and governments to mobilize support to campaign against cancer. We involve people from the general public as a fundamental political and economic group to systematically change cancer policies and programs to reflect the changing needs of individuals and communities.