A Comparative Study of Cancer Burden Among Males Aged 35 to 75 years in Ghana: Evidence from GLOBOCAN 2022

Background Cancer is a leading cause of death globally ranking second behind cardiovascular diseases as the all-time leading cause of death in the world. In Ghana, there was an increased rise in cancer cases from 24,009 in 2020 to 27,385 in 2022. The total number of deaths due to cancer in 2020 in Ghana was 15,802, which rose to a total mortality of 17,944. Liver cancer is the most common form of cancer among Ghanaian males, which is followed by prostate cancer. However, among Ghanaian men aged 55+ years, prostate cancer is the leading cancer incidence. Objective The study aimed to examine the cancer burden among Ghanaian males aged 35 to 75+ years using the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 cancer estimates. Materials and Methods This comparative descriptive design examined the cancer burden among Ghanaian men aged 35 to 75 years using the GLOBOCAN 2022 database. The corresponding population consisted of Ghanaian males stratified into four groups. The incidence and mortality cases as well as the age-standardized incidence and mortality ratios on the various forms of cancer among Ghanaian males aged 35 to 75+ years were obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2022 cancer estimates. Results A total of 11,398 cancer cases were recorded in 2022 among Ghanaian males. Liver cancer constituted 23.3% of the total cancer cases, and the incidence of prostate cancer in Ghana was 2,395 (21.0%). The leading age-specific incidence and mortality rate of cancer among Ghanaian males aged 35 to 44 years was liver cancer disease, with age-standardized incidence of 35 per 100,000. Even though, prostate cancer was the highest cancer incidence among men aged 55 to 64 years in Ghana, liver cancer was observed to have the most mortality cases with an age-standardized mortality ratio of 50 per 100,000. Conclusion The leading cause of cancer incidence among Ghanaian males was liver cancer, however, prostate cancer was most incident among men aged above 54 years. Lifestyle changes, infiltration of national tobacco and alcoholic companies, late detection and screening, lack of knowledge and awareness, and limited health system are challenges faced with the prevention and control of cancer cases among Ghanaian males