Monday, April 30, 2007

Can CANCER be prevented ?

Cancer is not a single disease with a single cause or type of treatment. In fact, there are as many cancers as there are types of human cells in our body (almost 200). It is a diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis.

Normally, the human body forms new cells as needed, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong and the new cells grow even when not needed, and old cells don’t die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor forming cancer.

The unregulated growth that becomes cancer is due to the cause of damage to DNA, resulting in mutations to genes. These mutations can be caused by radiation, chemicals or physical agents that cause cancer, which are called carcinogens, or by certain viruses that can insert their DNA into the human genome. Mutations occur spontaneously, and may be passed down from one cell generation to the next as a result of mutations within germ lines.

A definitive diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of tissue by a pathologist. This tissue is obtained by biopsy or surgery. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Most Common Cancers
Male: Prostate Cancer (33%), Lung Cancer (13%), Colorectal Cancer (10%), Bladder Cancer (7%), Cutaneous Melanoma (5%)
Female: Breast Cancer (32%), Lung Cancer (12%), Colorectal Cancer (11%), Endometrial Cancer (6%), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (4%)

Most Common Cancers That Cause Death
Male: Lung Cancer (31%), Prostate Cancer (10%), Colorectal Cancer (10%), Pancreatic Cancer (5%), Leukemia (4%)
Female: Lung Cancer (27%), Breast Cancer (15%), Colorectal Cancer (10%), Ovarian Cancer (6%), Pancreatic Cancer (6%)

Can Cancer Be Prevented?
Smoking and drinking alcohol cause some people to get certain types of cancer. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol might prevent these cancers. The best idea is to never use tobacco at all. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco cause cancer and should not be used. The chances of getting skin cancer can be lowered by staying in the shade as much as you can, wearing a hat and shirt when you are in the sun, and using sunscreen. We know that our diet, (what we eat) is linked to some types of cancer, although the exact reasons are not yet clear. The best advice is to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains like pasta and bread, and to cut down on high fat foods. There are tests, called screening examinations, which adults should have in order to find cancer early. If cancer is found early it can often be cured.

The Seven steps to reduce the risk
When it comes to cancer prevention, some changes in your everyday life might help reduce your chances of getting cancer. Try these seven cancer prevention steps.

1. No tobacco please

All types of tobacco put you on a collision course with cancer. Avoiding tobacco in any form significantly reduces the risk of several cancers, including:

  • Lung
  • Esophagus
  • Voice box (larynx)
  • Mouth
  • Bladder
  • Kidney
  • Pancreas
  • Cervix
  • Stomach
  • Acute myeloid leukemia
Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Every time you smoke a cigarette, you inhale more than 60 substances (carcinogens) that can cause your cells to become cancerous. In addition, the tar in cigarette smoke forms a sticky brown layer on the lining of your lungs and air passages. This layer traps the carcinogens you've inhaled. Even if you don't smoke, reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke. Each year, about 3,000 nonsmokers die of lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.

2. Change the eating behavior
About 30 percent of cancers are related to issues of nutrition, including obesity. Taking care of the selection of food and eating behavior can lower the risk of cancer.
  • Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly those from animal sources.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Your risk of cancers, including oral, esophageal and other cancers, increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly.
  • Eat an abundance of foods from plant-based sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In addition, eat other foods from plant sources, such as whole grains and beans, several times a day.

3. Stay active
Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly also may play a role in cancer prevention. Obesity may be a risk factor for cancers of the prostate, colon, rectum, uterus, ovaries and breast. Physical activity can help you avoid obesity by controlling your weight. Physical activity on its own may also lower your risk of other types of cancer, including breast cancer and colon cancer.
Try to be physically active for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week. Your exercise sessions can include such low-key activities as brisk walking, raking the yard or even ballroom dancing. Safe exercise programs are available for just about everyone.

4. Get protected from the sun
Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Although repeated exposure to X-rays or contact with certain chemicals can play a role, sun exposure is by far the most common cause of skin cancer.
Most skin cancer occurs on exposed parts of your body, including your face, hands, forearms and ears. Nearly all skin cancer is treatable if you detect it early, but it's better to prevent it in the first place.
  • Avoid peak radiation hours. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Minimize or avoid being outside during these hours.
  • Stay in the shade. If you go outside, minimize your sun exposure by staying in the shade.
  • Cover exposed areas. Wear light-colored, loosefitting clothing that protects you from the sun's rays. Use tightly woven fabrics that cover your arms and legs, and wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers your head and ears.
  • Don't skimp on sunscreen. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
  • Don't use indoor tanning beds or sunlamps. These can damage your skin as much as the sun can. There's no such thing as a healthy tan.

5. Get proper Immunization
Certain cancers are associated with viral infections that can be prevented with immunizations.
  • Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B can increase your risk of developing liver cancer. Vaccination is recommended for all babies. Certain high-risk adults also may need to be vaccinated.
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV): HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine to prevent HPV in 2006.

6. Avoid these risky behaviors
Reduce your risk of certain cancers by avoiding risky behaviors that can lead to infections that may increase your risk of cancer. Viruses transmitted sexually or by sharing contaminated needles include:
  • HPV: HPV increases your risk of cervical cancer or penis (penile) cancer. The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to have HPV.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): People with HIV or AIDS have an increased risk of anal cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. People with multiple sexual partners and intravenous (IV) drug users who share needles have an increased risk of HIV.
  • Hepatitis B and C: Chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection can increase your risk of liver cancer. Both forms of hepatitis can be passed through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing needles with an infected drug user.
Reduce your risk of these cancers by avoiding risky behaviors. Practice safe sex by using condoms, limiting the number of sexual partners you have or abstaining from sex. Never share needles.

7. Get screened
Regular screening and self-examination for certain cancers may not prevent cancer, but it can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful. Screening should include your skin, mouth, colon and rectum. If you're a man, it should also include your prostate and testes. If you're a woman, add cervix and breast cancer screening to your list. Be aware of changes in your body this may help you detect cancer early, increasing your chances of successful treatment.

By adapting these preventive measures, the risk of cancers can be prevented by one fourth and most of the cancers can be cured before it becomes life threatening. The figure (one fourth or 25%) is not a straight line. What should it be???

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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