Cancer Prevention Strategies for Nepal

Abstract

In Nepal, the commonest major malignancies and causes of cancer death are lung, cervix, stomach, breast, head and neck (lip, mouth, pharynx, larynx), gallbladder, ovary and liver. There are seven cancer-causative exposures which should be the focus of attention such as; tobacco smoking in 29% of men, and 6% of women, solid fuel burning in 69% of homes (multiple cancers), betel-nut chewing in 40 % of men and 3% of women (head and neck cancers), alcohol abuse (liver and other cancers), Human Papilloma Virus (cervical cancer), Helicobacter pylori (stomach cancer) and Hepatitis B virus (liver cancer). To better address these reducible exposures, we suggest greater targeted strategies in three areas: Public health messaging for tobacco, solid-fuel burning, betel-nut, and alcohol; national policies for Hepatitis B virus vaccination; and analytic epidemiological and interventional research for Human Papilloma Virus and helicobacter.