Identifying Risk Factors for Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Primary Head and Neck Cancers in a Nigerian Population

Abstract

Background:The risk factors for head and neck cancers (HNC) vary in different parts of the world.Objectives:To identify the risk factors for HNC and the correlation between these factors and the involved anatomical sites.Methods:We retrieved and analyzed health records of patients that met the inclusion criteria for HNC managed at our facility in a 10-year period using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10.Results:We studied 122 patients with a male to female ratio of 2.1:1 aged 13 years to 85 years (mean = 51 years). Alcohol (P = .02), cigarette smoking (P = .01), and cooking wood smoke (P = .01) were associated with advanced tumor stage.Conclusions:The strongest risk factors for HNC are alcohol, tobacco, HIV, agricultural chemicals, and cooking wood fumes in both sexes in their sixth and seventh decades.

The roles of chaplains in dispelling cancer myths in Nigeria: A narrative review

“…Many childhood malignancies are associated with parental exposure to chemicals before conception, in‐utero or direct exposure during the early childhood period 36 . In Nigeria, head and neck malignancies are associated with exposure to agrochemicals, fumes from indoor cooking, and so forth 37 …”

“…36 In Nigeria, head and neck malignancies are associated with exposure to agrochemicals, fumes from indoor cooking, and so forth. 37 …”