New Information Revealed On Preventing Up To One Third Of All
Cancer
A new study, published in the Lancet, suggests that specific
lifestyle changes would impact more than a third of cancer
deaths worldwide. Many cancers have preventable causes that
could be managed and prevented through changes in lifestyle and
environment.
These factors include
Smoking Alcohol use Unsafe sex Low fruit and vegetable intake
obesity lack of exercise contaminated injections indoor smoke
from fuels
While the impact of smoking is a well-known risk factor in
health, many of these other factors come as a surprise to many.
Modern nations tend to have low intakes of nutritious whole
foods and instead consume greater amounts of highly processed
foods, containing high levels of salt, fat and refined sugar.
Lack of exercise is also a significant lifestyle factor for many
people in industrialized countries who tend to sit in offices
and engage in little physical activity.
Indoor smoke from fuels creates a risk challenge for those who
burn kerosene for heat. The invisible fumes and traces of soot
damage exposed tissues including the lining of the lungs as well
as exposed skin and the surface of the eyes.
These factors add up to 2.43 million of the annual toll of seven
million cancer deaths reported in 2001 worldwide, according to
data from the World Health Organization's Comparative Risk
Assessment project, as well as other international sources. By
reducing these cancer risks, one global benefit is to make
available better funding for the medical treatment of the
remaining millions affected by cancer. As cancer is very
expensive to treat, reducing the impact of these risk factors
provides economic benefit as well as the improvement of many
lives through better health.
The research also indicates smoking is linked to deaths from the
following cancers.
Lung Bronchial and tracheal cancers Oesophageal cancers and oral
cancers.
Oesophageal cancer deaths and oral cancer deaths are also linked
to the abuse of alcohol consumption and may increase the impact
of the other risk factors as well. Figures are based on a review
of published studies, government reports and international
databases.
With one out of five cancer deaths worldwide attributed to
smoking, according to 2001 research data, the importance of
quitting smoking could not be more obvious.
The impact of second hand smoke was not covered in this report.
The true importance of this data is that it shows that we can do
something about cancer. The risk factors listed are all issues
that we have individual power over. While some forms of cancer
may be caused by more elusive factors there are still many
things we can do to protect ourselves and ensure an improved
quality of life through better living and the self-control of
clearly identified risk factors. Some of these factors may be
challenging to some, but by asking yourself the right questions
such as "how can I get more exercise" instead of "why can't I
find time to go the gym" you will find the answers you seek. The
only step that remains is to take action.