The Namibia National Cancer Registry is funded and administrated by the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) since its inception in 1995.
Cancer cases are manually searched and counted, and while this department within CAN has grown significantly over the past decade especially, we need the support of Namibians to help sustain this programme.
CAN uses specialist cancer notification software “CANREG5” to record and manage data professionally, and networks with the African Cancer Registries Network (AFCRN) and IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer).
In 2018 CAN, Paratus and InTouch joined forces to develop the first online electronic cancer diagnosis reporting portal in Africa – a system specifically tailored to the needs of the Namibian environment allowing for easier access for medical officers and better quality data capturing.
Administration fees pertaining to the registry averages N$250 000 per annum (excluding salaries of staff working in this programme. These salaries are carried fully by the Cancer Association of Namibia as part of the employee’s normal employment contracts with CAN).
Managed by CAN’s CEO, Mr Rolf Hansen, the technical team comprises Mrs Lizelle van Schalkwyk and Sr Christy Kavetuna and Sr Ingrid Muhenye.
Together with a multi-sectoral team comprising Dr Annelle Zietsman and her colleagues at the Dr AB May Cancer Care Centre at Windhoek Central Hospital; the Namibian Oncology Centre and various private pathology laboratories and service providers providing cancer notifcations, the registry remains focussed on quality data to help in decision-making on cancer control for the Republic of Namibia.
There are several publications since 1995 – the most recent being the “2010 – 2014 Cancer incidence in Namibia” report.
The CAN team is hard at work with the next 5-year report that will journal the period 2015 – 2019.
Current figures indicate that at average of 3 500 to 4 000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Namibia (including all skin cancers).
During 2015 alone 3 594 new active to aggressive malignant neoplasms where recorded.
Skin cancer remains the most prevalent form of cancer in Namibia.
An average of 812 new cases per annum of skin cancer was recorded during the period 2014 – 2016.
There are three major types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. The first two skin cancers are grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. This cancer arises in the basal cells, which are found at the bottom of the epidermis (outer skin layer). Generally, basal cell carcinomas are the least dangerous of skin cancers. They rarely metastasize (spread) or become life-threatening. Often they barely appear to grow or change for years, and people may leave them alone until they finally become too unattractive to bear or begin bleeding. Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of cancer that develops from the pigment-containing cells known as melanocytes. Melanomas typically occur in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye. If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent amongst Namibian women.
An average of 549 new cases per annum of breast cancers were recorded during the period 2014 – 2016.
Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast — the ducts, the lobules, or in some cases, the tissue in between.
There are different types of breast cancer, including non-invasive, invasive, and metastatic breast cancers, as well as the intrinsic or molecular subtypes of breast cancers. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), sometimes called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. About 80% of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas. Invasive means that the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Ductal means that the cancer began in the milk ducts, which are the “pipes” that carry milk from the milk-producing lobules to the nipple. Carcinoma refers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues that cover internal organs — such as breast tissue. All together, “invasive ductal carcinoma” refers to cancer that has broken through the wall of the milk duct and begun to invade the tissues of the breast. Over time, invasive ductal carcinoma can spread to the lymph nodes and possibly to other areas of the body. Although invasive ductal carcinoma can affect women at any age, it is more common as women grow older.
Cervical cancer is second most prevalent amongst women in Namibia.
An average of 300 new cases per annum of cervical cancer was recorded during the period 2014 – 2016.
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. Once cervical cells begin to change, it typically takes 10-15 years before invasive cervical cancer develops. As the cells change, they first become “pre-cancerous” – a condition also known as “dysplasia” or CIN – the abbreviation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Cervical cancer is not fatal if detected and treated early, yet kills thousands of women annually in developing countries due to lack of screening and early interventions . Virtually all deaths from cervical cancer (search) are preventable!
The Cancer Association of Namibia advises all sexually active women to have a “cervical screening” by visual inspection (known as VIA). Your health care practitioner will do a pelvic examination, and similar to a Pap smear, conduct a procedure whereby the cells of the cervix will be carefully looked at. Should irregular cells be noted, cryotherapy may be used to quickly treat the cells, or a further procedure with colposcopy will be conducted. Your medical officer will then guide you on the next steps should there be any. HIV+ ladies stand a greater risk of developing cervical cancer, and we request patients to build a trusting relationship with your health care provider and do annual VIA screening to ensure your health is a priority. Ladies who are HIV- and HPV- have the lowest risk of developing cervical cancer, but should be screened at least every 3-5 years to eliminate any possible threats. Women over the age of 60 will be privately assessed and advised by the health officer and a medical check-up plan should be managed by the patient. Knowing your HIV and HPV status, understanding your body and educating yourself with the facts are key to fighting cervical cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common amongst Namibian men, apart from skin cancer.
An average of 310 new cases per annum of prostate cancer was recorded during the period 2014 – 2016.
Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer generally affects men older than 45 years of age, who have a family history of this form of cancer, although lifestyle plays a key role in helping to prevent prostate cancer as well. Early signs of prostate cancer include frequent urination, weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder, the urge to urinate frequently at night, blood in the urine, blood in the seminal fluid, new onset of erectile dysfunction, pain or burning during urination, which is much less common. Screening for prostate cancer includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Your PSA level may be high if you have prostate cancer. The digital rectal exam (DRE) to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual in conjunction with a PSA-test remains key components of prostate health check-ups.
Childhood forms of cancer in Namibia averages 139 cases per annum over the period 2014 to 2016.
Leukaemia, which is cancers of the bone marrow and blood, are the most common childhood cancers. The most common types in children are acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Retinoblastoma is a cancerous tumour that grows in the retina, a layer of nerve tissue in the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain. A cancer of early childhood, retinoblastoma can affect developing foetuses in the womb, as well as new-born’s, babies, toddlers, and children up to 5 years old. Brain tumours are also commonly diagnosed among Namibian children. Early signs that may be indicators of childhood forms of cancer may include continued and unexplained weight loss; headaches that often present with early morning vomiting, increased swelling or persistent pain in the bones, joints, back, or legs; a lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpits; development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash; chronic fatigue with loss of appetite; and a wound that does not heal.
Our aim at the Namibia National Cancer Registry and the Cancer Association of Namibia is to get in touch with patients to not only build quality data to build best-practice models to help fight cancer in Namibia – but, to reach out to cancer patients and through CAN’s support programmes and help cancer patients as best possible if and where we can.
Mission:
1) Act as network agent between all relevant stakeholders to access cancer cases.
2) Collect and analyse cancer incidences.
3) Process data and build reputable data output.
4) Report on incidences to fight cancer.
5) Provide quality output data to Ministry of Health and Social Services for planning.
*At no point may the patient confidential information be compromised. Data entered by relevant stakeholders remain the responsibility of Cancer Association of Namibia!
Our objectives are to answer these questions:
1) How many persons have been diagnosed with cancer and what types (cancer incidence) in Namibia?
2) Which forms of cancer have increased, which forms have decreased?
3) What are the differences between women, men and childhood cancer with regard to patterns of cancer cases?
4) Do lifestyle factors contribute to cancer incidence in Namibia?
5) Do environmental factors contribute to cancer incidence in Namibia?
6) Does ethnicity contribute to cancer incidence in Namibia?
7) Do instruments of early cancer detection have an effect?
8) Do individual forms of cancer appear more often in certain regions of the country?
9) How many persons that have fallen ill in the past 5 years are living in a specific region?
10) What is the role of immune-deficient factors (i.e. HIV) on cancer incidence in Namibia?
canreg@can.org.na • 061 237740 • www.can.org.na