Cancer and mRNA vaccines

Liver cancer is strikingly prevalent in West Africa. Specialists point to high rates of hepatitis as a likely cause, but the region is not well equipped to deal with the epidemic.

On a long ribbon of land between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, industrial pollution puts the area's mostly African-American residents at nearly 50 times the risk of cancer than the United States average, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Then "Cancer Alley," as it's known, began making headlines for a different reason last spring: one of its parishes -- Louisiana's equivalent of US counties -- was hit with the highest rate of Covid-19 related deaths in the country.

The Galleri blood test can determine whether a patient has cancer before symptoms show up. Health experts hope for a "game changer" in early cancer detection, with thousands expected to take part in the trial.

As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we examine the rising rates of breast cancer in Nigeria, Uganda and Malawi. Lifesaving information is often scarce and many patients lack access to adequate treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, access to healthcare in Chad is still at an embryonic stage. The country has limited data on cancer and no department dedicated to its care, meaning those who are diagnosed are often referred to hospitals abroad. But Jean-Bosco Ndihokubwayo, the WHO's representative to Chad, is optimistic about the country's political will to fight cancer, as authorities plans to build a national treatment centre.

Breast Cancer Awareness month, also known as Pink October, is drawing to a close. One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer during their lifetime. We take a look at one remedy that's proving to be effective: sport. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring by as much as 25 percent and improve survival rates by 30 percent. Sport is also an excellent way for women suffering from breast cancer to boost their self-confidence. Our reporters went to meet women in France who have turned to fencing and paddling to fight their breast cancer.

As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DW examines the rising rates of breast cancer in Nigeria, Uganda and Malawi. Lifesaving information is often scarce, and many patients lack access to adequate treatment.

South Africa is grappling with the fourth wave of the coronavirus, driven by the omicron variant. The country is pushing for more vaccinations — and for its own mRNA vaccine.

This week on The Observers, we spoke to Cynthia Kå who is using her social media pages to raise awareness of breast cancer among young people. She shares tips on how to prevent, as well as cope, with the disease. Next, we spoke to Murhula Zigabe, an entrepreneur in the Democratic Republic of Congo who is searching for eco-friendly solutions to common problems. He has been raising larvae from black soldier flies to be used as animal feed: an environmental and economical solution to food insecurity.

Some of the vaccines developed to tackle COVID-19 use mRNA technology. Research is underway to deploy it to fight cancer as well. Each patient would get a custom vaccine tailored to his or her tumor that would cause minimal damage to other cells.

The number of cancer cases is notably on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa. But medical professionals say there is not enough awareness, facilities, or political will to change the situation.

This week, we chat to pianist Min-Jung Kym about the book "La Musique Pour Dépasser Le Cancer", which she has co-authored. Scheduled to be published in English in October, it explores music as a form of additional therapy when it comes to cancer treatment. She has also recorded a compilation album for the book entitled "Sounds For The Soul".