A third of cancer is preventable
Cancer – can we prevent it?
Author: Professor Joyce Harper
In our bodies, it is normal for cells to die and renew. This process is controlled by our genes. In cancer, damage to the genes can cause cells to multiply to form a tumour. Most cancers start due to changes in the genes that happen over a persons lifetime but some cancers are caused by inherited genetic abnormalities which are handed down from our parents.
There are over 200 types of cancers and 1 in 2 people in the UK will get cancer.
Cancer is in the top 10 causes of death in every country. In the UK, lung cancer is the 6th most common cause of death in women, closely followed by breast cancer at number 7 and bowel cancer at number 8. In the USA, cancer is at number 2.
Is there anything you can do to prevent cancer? Yes – at least a third of all cancers are preventable.
The World Health Organisation have listed ways to prevent cancer:
- Tobacco – is the single greatest avoidable factor for cancer worldwide. It is estimated that tobacco causes 22% of cancer deaths per year. In 2004, 1.6 million of the 7.4 million cancer deaths were due to tobacco use. Smoking causes lung, oesophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach and cervical cancer. Passive smoking – or second hand smoking – has been proven to cause lung cancer in non-smoking adults.
- Physical inactivity, dietary factors, obesity – there is a link to being overweight for many cancers including oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium and kidney. A healthy diet (fruit and vegetables with reduced red and processed meat) can prevent 1 in 10 cancers. Along with regular physical activity and reduced stress, these lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of cancer.
- Alcohol – is a risk factor for many cancers including cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and breast. The risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Heavy drinking and smoking substantially increases the risk for oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus cancer.
- Radiation- can also cause cancer, especially radiation from the sun which can result in skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, using sun screen and protective clothing can reduce these cancers. UV emitting tanning devices are now also classified as carcinogenic.
Other factors that cause cancer are infections, environmental pollution, occupational carcinogens and other forms of radiation.
We will be writing more articles on cancer over the coming weeks.
Read More:
http://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/en/
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/women/
Image credit homepage: bodybusiness.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.
When we are young we do not think so much about death. But at my age- the thought of death is getting nearer and most of my friends want to improve their life expectancy. So here are some ways of reducing the cancer risk. This week I will be writing about cancer symptoms – what to look for as early diagnosis significantly improves our chance of survival.
It is important to look at the word cancer and sometimes substitute it with the word illness.
We cannot predict cancer, but we can more easily predict our general health. If you ask yourself, and honestly so, if something is bad for you- these are the first steps to take to being a healthier you. Admit that you need to cut something out, or take something up.
We all know that smoking, drinking and fast food are bad for us and that we need exercise but we happily choose to ignore these facts when it suits us.
Start with the little changes that will make you healthier as a whole, these are what will have the best effect on your long term health. These are the things we can control, unlike cancer in so many instances.