In order to create awareness about cancer for its early detection World Cancer Day is being observed in Pakistan like many other parts of the world with a resolve to continue efforts for achieving the goal of healthy society. World Cancer Day is observed every year on February 4th and WHO supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer because preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are necessary.
To mark the day, different organisations and bodies have planned to hold seminars, workshops and walks in a bid to raise awareness among the people about the disease. Health professionals believe that the most important factor about cancer that needs to be brought to the forefront is that more than 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented. "At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable.
Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer," they said, adding, "Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world today. It causes 80-90% of deaths from lung cancer, and about 30% of all cancer deaths in developing countries, including deaths from cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus and stomach."
According to them, one of the most preventable cancers in the world is cervical cancer. However, it remains the second most common cancer in women taking one life every two minutes. Breast cancer, being the most prevalent in the world, is often talked about and much is being done to spread awareness about the disease, but there is relatively little public knowledge about the risks of cervical cancer, especially in the developing world. WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015, they said.
They said, "cancer has uncontrolled growth and can affect almost any part of the body. The growth often invade surrounding tissue and can metastasise to distant sites. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke. In addition, a significant proportion of cancers can be cured, by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early."
Health professionals said that dietary modification is another important approach to cancer control. There is a link between overweight and obesity to many types of cancer such as oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium and kidney. Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have a protective effect against many cancers. Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, will considerably reduce cancer risk.
They further said that infectious agents are responsible for almost 22% of cancer deaths in the developing world and 6% in industrialised countries. Viral hepatitis B and C cause cancer of liver; human papilloma virus infection causes cervical cancer; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of stomach cancer, they added.
About cervical cancer, they said incidence and mortality rates of the disease have rapidly declined since 1960s in many developed countries like the United States due to widespread screening and intervention. However, it is still the third most leading cause of cancer deaths in women world-wide. Approximately, 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year; half of which will die. A staggering 80% of these deaths occur in the developing world.
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