By Nasratu Kargbo
Surgical Oncologist at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Issac Olufemi Smalle has said there is an increase of pancreatic cancer in Sierra Leone.
The doctor was speaking on the 31st May 2023 at Sierra Bay at an event held to commemorate World No Tobacco Day, with the theme “Grow food, not tobacco”.
Whilst delivering a presentation on the health hazards associated with smoking, Smalle said “In the hospital, we have seen an increasing incidence of cancer of the pancreas in Sierra Leone”. He added that most of them are persons that smoke directly or indirectly, stating that smokeless tobacco also has a negative effect.
He said that smokeless tobacco has direct contact with the organs, stressing that it has the same health hazards as smokers.
Smalle said people who smoke are at a higher risk of developing cancer of the pancreas.
Explaining other health hazards linked with tobacco, the doctor said smoking-related diseases can affect persons at any stage in their lifetime, stressing that even the unborn child can be affected.
He explained that when a pregnant woman smokes whilst the baby is developing, the baby will likely develop complications. Smalle added that most women that smoke are likely to give birth to small babies, explaining that babies that are small have small brain which makes them unproductive.
Smalle mentioned that smoking can lead to heart disease, peripheral vascular diseases, and stroke amongst others. He said that there is no cancer in the human body that has not been attributed to smoking, and mentioned that the mouth, skin, lungs, and blood can all be affected by cancer.
The doctor said Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in tobacco, that makes it difficult for people to stop smoking. He said when one smokes; they are not only affected by nicotine but that there are other harmful chemicals that also have their own subtle effects on the smoker.
He said those who inhale the smoke puffed by smokers are called second-hand smokers, Smalle said they are affected by the same harmful chemicals as those who smoke, adding that second-hand smoke only inhales and do not puff it out.
The Oncologist called on all to raise awareness about the hazards of smoking, emphasizing that non-smokers can also be greatly affected.
Pancreas cancer is a cancer that is found in the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that is found on top of the tummy, and helps with the digestion of food.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (05/06/2023)
