Cancer of the Integumentary Tissues in Uganda Africans: The Basis for Prevention

Summary

Superficial cancers in the Uganda African occur in certain localizations which differ greatly from those in the European. Most squamous carcinomas in the Uganda African develop from antecedent lesions which can be identified, such as tropical phagedenic ulceration, burns, scars, sinuses, and fistulae. There are reasons for suspecting that sunlight is a major factor in producing squamous cancers of the cranial region, including the common conjunctival cancers. Melanomas are similarly virtually confined to restricted areas of the superficial tissues, and they may be induced by local heat. There is every indication that the overwhelming majority of integumentary tissue cancers of Uganda are preventable by measures which for the most part would be acceptable to the population.