Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 14, 2009 News
By Dr Carl Niamatali
Before the economic crisis hit last year, people in Iceland were asked what three things represented their happiness index. The first choice was the status of their personal health, with the environment and their personal finances coming in second and third.
But what is the perception of persons in Low and Middle Income countries, which include Guyana, with regard their health? Must we always wait until we are ill or into our fifties or sixties before we take action on our own health?
More than 70 per cent of all cancer worldwide will occur in Low and Mid Income Countries (LMIC). Those countries, least equipped to cope with this challenge, will bear a disproportionate burden of cancer.
Worldwide, 7.5 million people died from cancer in 2005. By 2010, the figure will exceed 10 million people, and by 2015 there will be a stunning 20 million deaths, with two-thirds of those deaths coming from LMIC.
The combined deaths from HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are less than the cancer deaths. Yet there is no comparable global programme and funding similar to that for HIV-AIDS to address the cancer problem.
In the USA today, more than 10 million people are alive after being treated and cured from cancer. Many millions more are living with cancer, treated with palliative care, which may include chemotherapy radiation and targeted treatment.
How common is cancer? It is the leading cause of death in persons under the age of 85 years in the USA.
The good news is that 70 per cent of all cancers are preventable
What then is the solution to the Cancer problem? Education – knowing the risk factors for cancer and how to avoid these; Screening for cancers of the breast, cervix, ovary, prostate and colon; Early and comprehensive cancer treatment.
Cancer results from mutations or “errors” in genes that control the production, growth, differentiation and death of cells. Oncogenes exposed to carcinogens such as tobacco, alcohol, UV light, viruses, radiation and certain chemicals can induce genetic changes which may lead to cancer.
The main features of cancers are unchecked cell division, invasion of local tissue, for example a breast cancer may invade the muscle and skin of the chest wall, and it may metastasize, or spread to lymph nodes under the arm or neck, or distant, to the bones, liver, lung and brain, which results in a worse outcome.
Metastatic cancers are seldom cured. Compared to a breast cancer that is localized and diagnosed at an early stage, it is less than 90 per cent curable.
CANCER STATISTICS
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, whereas lung cancer is the leading cause of death for cancer-sufferers and accounts for 37 per cent of all cancer deaths. Colon and prostate cancer account for 10 per cent of all cancer deaths. In the USA, 180,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, another 62,000 were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and cured.
About 40,000 women die every year from breast cancer, equivalent to 26 per cent of all cancers in women. Few men are diagnosed with breast cancer.
More than 90 per cent of all lung cancers are due to smoking tobacco, which causes lung, head and neck, esophageal, pancreatic, kidney, bladder and cervical cancers.
It is estimated that from 2010, more than a million people will die annually from tobacco related disease in India, and in this century a billion people will die worldwide from tobacco.
Marijuana is also highly carcinogenic, and needs to be investigated further as a source of head and neck cancer. Other risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco / marijuana and the HPV- Human Pappiloma Virus, are major risk factor for cervical cancer and head and neck cancer.
CANCER PREVENTION
TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA –
Smoking is perhaps the greatest threat to public health .Targeted programmes which are culturally sensitive, need to be developed and implemented to get people to stop smoking and to encourage teens not to start or to stop smoking. Strict laws, such as banning smoking in public places have been successfully implemented in Ireland and other EEC countries with positive results. Family, friends and colleagues should encourage others to stop smoking. Second hand smoke is also harmful.
ALCOHOL
Recent studies show more than two drinks per day or more than seven drinks per week, (1 drink is equivalent to 1 unit of alcohol and a double shot is equivalent to 2 units of alcohol) significantly increases the risk of cancer. Alcohol may also cause cancers of the head and neck, liver, rectum, and breast.
Red wine offers more benefits and is a better choice for some people and is cardio protective. Smoking and alcohol are very harmful during pregnancy –both to the mother and unborn child.
OBESITY
Being overweight is a major risk factor linked to cancer. Body Mass Index (BMI) should be less than 27 Kg/M2, this is calculated based on height and weight. Obesity is caused by a lack of exercise and dietary indiscretion, otherwise known as “overeating”.
Food consumed today has a greater density of calories than a few decades ago, especially fast foods and supersize portions. Weight increase more than five pounds per year will result in obesity. The risk of esophageal, breast, colon, gall bladder, kidney and prostate cancer is increased as a result of obesity, which is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Exercise is easy and free. Anyone who can get to the national park or sea wall in Georgetown or any suitable area to exercise can begin to lose weight. All it takes is some time and discipline to just -do it!
It is the single best thing anyone can do to improve their own health, and save on gym fees.
(To be continued)
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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