How to Prevent Cancer

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Globally, cancer is a growing problem. From 2000-2005 a significant rise in the number of cases is anticipated worldwide. At present, from a world population of 6 billion about 10 million cases are diagnosed annually with 6 million deaths. However, 50 per cent will occur in developing countries, which have 5 per cent of the resources to treat it. This figure will rise to 20 million by 2020 from a world population of 12 billion, with 12 million deaths. Of these 20 million cases, 70 per cent will occur in developing countries.

Reducing the risks of developing cancer :

Based largely on our current knowledge of the causes of cancer, it has been estimated that 80 per cent of cancers are preventable. To put the environmental causes of cancer in perspective their relative proportions are as follows :

Factor Proportion (%)

1. Tobacco 30

2. Diet 30

3. Sexual behaviour 7

4. Occupation 4

5. Alcohol 3

6. Infection 10

7. Other factors 16

The striking feature is the high proportion due to dietary factors and to smoking prohibition smoking and changing dietary habits could potentially reduce the risk of cancer, possibly by a third.

Facts on the prevention of cancer :

1. Reducing Tobacco Smoking :

A multisectorial approach should made health warnings mandatory on commercial tobacco products and on advertisements for tobacco. To achieve substantial reductions in tobacco consumption, additional measures would be required. These could include banning advertising of tobacco, its consumption in public places and working environments, increasing taxation on tobacco, reducing for content in cigarettes and setting up clinics for smokers to help them break the habit.

2. Diet :

Diet influences in the causation of cancer in a variety of ways; cancer causing substances may be eaten; food substances may be converted to carcinogen once ingested; and dietary components may modify the ways in which the body metabolises and responds to carcinogens.

Dietary measures likely to reduce the risk of cancers are :

High-fibre diet

Reducing saturated fats

Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (owing to the pregence of antioxidants such as vitamin E)

3. Alcohol :

After smoking, alcohol is another noxious important cause of cancer. It may be responsible in some countries for up to 10 per cent of deaths from cancer. Cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus and liver are certainly caused in part by alcohol. Alcohol and tobacco smoking act as synergistic carcinogens.

4. Ultraviolet light :

Exposure to ultraviolet light has been increasing with the reduction of the ozone layer caused by chemical pollution. An increase in the incidence of all forms of skin cancer can be expected. The principal culprits are the 'CFC'. These are components in, for example, aerosol sprays, fridges, international agreements have been reached, aimed at eliminating the we of 'CFCs'.

5. Occupational exposure :

A wide variety of occupations are known to carry the risk of exposure to cancer causing agents. These included industrial processes, industrial chemicals, pesticides, laboratory chemicals, drugs, foot ingredients, tobacco related plants.

Measures to prevent occupational exposure include labeling of products as carcinogenic, and prohibiting the marketing and use of certain substances. Applying suitable screening methods for early detection of cancers among workers is a betters way of prevention.

6. Ionising radiation :

The whole spectrum of sources of ionising radiation, both natural and man-made, has been calculated to contribute 1.5 per cent of all fatal cancers. It is estimated that exposure to radon gas from domestic buildings may be responsible for 1 per cent of lung cancer in Europe. To reduce the levels of radon gas, systematic survey to identify building which pose a hazard.

7. Pollution :

a. Atmospheric - Atmospheric pollution has been suspected to be carcinogenic. Rules and regulation against pollution should be strengthened.

b. Water - Ingestion of Arsenic and Irihalomethanes containing water increases the risk of causation of cancer. Reduction of levels of these chemicals in drinking water is desirable.

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