Rowaka Cancer Group - Sierra Leone

Information, through a well planned sustainable advocacy, can bring awareness to the people to know the dangers of cancer and the risk unsuspecting people may face from tobacco smoking and exposure to cancer causative substances. Information Dissemination, through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information useful in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer can be critical to saving lives of millions of people. Lung Cancer is mostly linked to exposure to cancer-causing substances: this includes exposure to asbestos in the mining or construction industries. Also exposure to certain industrial substances like coal products, nickel chromate, vinyl chloride, and exposure to some organic chemicals like chloromethyl ethers . However, the most common cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoking. The Rome 8 January 2004 report of the Food and Agricultural Organization of The United Nations (FAO) states, “Higher world tobacco use expected by 2010 .” The FAO says “number ...

Medical practitioners in Sierra Leone recently revealed at a One-day Workshop held at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences that there is no data on cancer.   The workshop which was held on Tuesday was attended by senior medical officers with co-partners from the University of Cardiff .   According to Professor Alison Fianda, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology- Cardiff University , Sierra Leone has an estimated number of 11,400 cases or death per year.   For a country with a population of 5.4 million, such a figure is threatening and needed grater attention by the government and stakeholders.   However, cancer sensitization will be key to enlightening Sierra Leoneans about their health decisions, especially the majority poor, who are still finding it difficult to afford for their livelihood.

What health problems are caused by smoking? Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and diminishes a person’s overall health. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. It causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx (voice box), mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. Smoking also causes heart disease, stroke, lung disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), hip fractures, and cataracts. Smokers are at higher risk of developing pneumonia and other airway infections. A pregnant smoker is at higher risk of having her baby born too early and with an abnormally low weight. A woman who smokes during or after pregnancy increases her infant’s risk of death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Millions of Americans have health problems caused by smoking. Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke cause an estimated average of 438,000 premature deaths each year in the United States. Of these premature...

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Some cancers, if caught in early stages need not be fatal; others spread quickly and can result in death. There are many types of cancer, but the most common types are: Breast, Colorectal, Lung, Prostate, Skin and Testicular. All of these involve the malfunction of genes that control cell growth and cell division. That means your cell will not be able to communicate properly (similar to you trying to talk to someone that does not speak your language) and as a result there will be a lot of mis-communcation. There is no single cause. Instead cancer can be caused by external factors (smoking, radiation, and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited genes, immune conditions, etc.) While some of the causes are outside of most people's control, other factors, like smoking, are lifestyle changes that an individual could make to improve their health. The American Cancer Society estimates that in a singl...

Over one hundred youths in the East End of Freetown joined Rowaca Cancer Group to celebrate LiveStrong Day October 2, to commemorate the day the founder and CEO of Lance Amstrong Foundation, Lance Amstrong, was diagnosed with cancer. The celebration, which was organized by the Community Based Organization, Rowaka Cancer Group (RCG), was held at Wellington in Freetown. RCG has been working to promote awareness among grassroots people on cancer disease, and LiveStrong Day was a unique day in the history of the organization as the occasion was celebrated in many other countries championed by LiveStrong. Being that Sierra Leone has a high youth population, targeting cigarette smoking and the use of illegal drugs is key to the organization’s advocacy campaigns.

By Alusine Sesay Reverend Mohamed Kamara of the Wesleyan Church has advised young people to be mindful of the dangers of cigarette smoking and use of illegal drugs. Rev. Kamara made this call during a LIVESTRONG sensitization programme at Old Railway Line, Wellington on Friday. The occasion attracted young and old people in the community including the tribal head, Yabom Poro. Reverend Kamara, who was Chairman of the occasion, said many young people in Sierra Leone are at risk of exposing themselves to ill health especially cancer, if steps are not taken to seriously inform them about the dangers of cigarette smoking and exposure to illegal drugs. He said the action by the organization, Rowaca Cancer Group, to reach out to the grassroots is a welcome move as educating poor and vulnerable people about cancer will save lives in the community. He said he accepted the offer to be chairman of the occasion because he has faith in the team leader and the drive the organization is taking. “I...

LIVESTRONG Team Leader Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide but unfortunately in Africa, priority is yet to be focused in it as is often seen with diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Despite the lapses, African nations can still join the international community and be part in the drive to ensure cancer become a priority in the decision making processes. The cancer scourge has become so threatening that over 500 delegates from 65 countries in October gathered at the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin to learn, cooperate, and communicate in order to find ways to work together as a community in the fight against cancer. The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit is an unprecedented step by the Lance Amstrong Foundation to ensure that people worldwide are provided with national control plans by their governments. Stakeholders in the summit made a statement of unity, reiterating the urgent need for countries to have National Cancer Control Plans, to make a glo...