Rising global, regional and national levels burden of cancer: the case of Benin and implications for national development

Background: Although cancer mortality rates in Africa are higher than in high-income countries, the disease has received little attention in the region. We aimed to highlight the rising cancer burden in the Republic of Benin, trends, characteristics, controversies, and their implications for national development. Methodology: A review of published studies and documents was conducted using keywords including cancer, incidence, mortality, Africa, The Republic of Benin, risk factors, behavioral issues, cultural disparity, psychosocial and ethnic background in Medline, Scopus, Pubmed, and Google. Some of the incidence and mortality figures retrieved from published papers and the GLOBOCAN website were subjected to graphical and frequency analyses. Findings: Breast cancer and lung cancer accounted for approximately 12% and 18% of all new cancer cases and deaths worldwide, respectively. Africa currently has the fourth highest age-standardized cancer mortality rate globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest incidence rates. Certain factors, such as westernized diet, urbanization, and possibly increased awareness, had been implicated, though their precise contributions had yet to be determined. Conclusion: Cancer will compound The Republic of Benin’s disease burden, increase poverty and gender inequality, and reverse global gains in maternal and neonatal mortality unless urgent action is taken.