At a time when Cancer still remains a feared and dreaded disease, our headline - “Cancer can be prevented too” may sound a bit incredible, and clichéd, more so as cancer still remains the leading cause of death worldwide. For this reason, it has been a constant endeavor by the WHO and the International Union against Cancer to address ways to reduce the burden of cancer, and the (4th of February) each year is dedicated as World Cancer Day.
The theme for 2010 looks at a key facet - Prevention of Cancer.
The WHO makes no qualms about the fact that in the absence of timely intervention, cancer can claim the lives of 84 million people worldwide between 2005 and 2015, with the low and middle-income countries bearing the brunt as compared to the industrialized ones. If that’s not all, the burden of cancer is estimated to double by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. According to the forecasted figures for 2030, there are likely to be 20-26 million fresh cancer diagnoses and 13-17 million cancer related deaths. China, Russia, and India need to watch out and tackle the growing burden of cancer, attributed mainly to increase in use of tobacco, fatty diets, adoption of western habits, and demographic changes. It is possible to reduce the risks of cancer and move closer to prevention of the disease.
The use of tobacco is linked with a number of different cancers including lung cancer. Tobacco also increases the risk of other types of cancers such as cancer of the pancreas, mouth, throat, cervix, and bladder. Tobacco also triggers other chronic respiratory diseases as well as cardiac disease. Smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer cases. A smoker carries a fourteen fold risk of dying due to cancer and a double risk of dying due to a heart attack.
Almost 4000 potentially toxic chemicals found in tobacco are inhaled into the system due to smoking. The chemicals found in tobacco lower the body’s immunity to fight infections. Further, tobacco gradually begins to harm the vital organs in the body, especially the heart and the lungs.
The WHO makes no qualms about the fact that in the absence of timely intervention, cancer can claim the lives of 84 million people worldwide between 2005 and 2015, with the low and middle-income countries bearing the brunt as compared to the industrialized ones. If that’s not all, the burden of cancer is estimated to double by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. According to the forecasted figures for 2030, there are likely to be 20-26 million fresh cancer diagnoses and 13-17 million cancer related deaths. China, Russia, and India need to watch out and tackle the growing burden of cancer, attributed mainly to increase in use of tobacco, fatty diets, adoption of western habits, and demographic changes. It is possible to reduce the risks of cancer and move closer to prevention of the disease.
The use of tobacco is linked with a number of different cancers including lung cancer. Tobacco also increases the risk of other types of cancers such as cancer of the pancreas, mouth, throat, cervix, and bladder. Tobacco also triggers other chronic respiratory diseases as well as cardiac disease. Smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer cases. A smoker carries a fourteen fold risk of dying due to cancer and a double risk of dying due to a heart attack.
Almost 4000 potentially toxic chemicals found in tobacco are inhaled into the system due to smoking. The chemicals found in tobacco lower the body’s immunity to fight infections. Further, tobacco gradually begins to harm the vital organs in the body, especially the heart and the lungs.
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