Cancer prevention week

Knowing as much as possible about cancer could save your life. Cancer prevention week is from 1 to 7 August 2009.

Cancer can be prevented and many cancers are now believed to be preventable through lifestyle changes. Cancer Prevention Week is a good opportunity for us to raise awareness of how individuals can take responsibility to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Further more medical research has uncovered new treatment options and medication, as well as the signs and symptoms of what to look out for to help us get treatment sooner rather than later.  
 
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members - and future members - on a range of healthcare topics, please read through the following cancer prevention information.

What is cancer?

Our body is made of organs and tissues. In our organs and tissues are many tiny building blocks, known as cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells. Body cells become abnormal and divide without control. These cancer cells may then invade surrounding tissue cells. They may then spread through the blood stream and lymphatic system to other body parts.

What are the warning signs of cancer?

There are many different types of cancer but being aware of any changes in your natural bodily functions may help you notice when something is not quite right. It may be a frightening thought at first but its important to see a doctor as soon as you realise that there is a problem, the sooner a diagnosis is made, and the sooner treatment can begin, the greater the chances of recovery and survival.

What kind of symptoms to watch out for?

• Growths or tumours are often early warning signs and should be checked out immediately. Internal tumours can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including exhaustion and localised pain.
• If either or both of your parents developed cancer, you should be extremely vigilant. Don't ignore any early warning signs, as quick action could save your life.
• Sudden headaches, unexplained blood in your stools or localised discomfort in a particular spot over a number of days, or a mole that changes shape or colour.

Types of cancer

Cancers affecting South African women:

• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colo-rectal cancer
• Lung cancer
• Oesophageal cancer
• Uterine cancer

Cancers affecting South African men:

• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
• Oesophageal cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Colo-rectal cancer
• Liver cancer
• Cancer of the Larynx

Cancers most prevalent amongst South African children follows a worldwide trend:

• Leukaemia
• Brain tumours
• Lymphomas
• Cancer of the kidney - also known as Wilm's tumour
• Cancer of the sympathic nervous system, known as neuroblastoma

How to prevent cancer?

These simple precautions could help prevent developing cancer:

• Don't smoke and if you do stop.
• Balance a healthy diet with exercise, avoid obesity at all costs.
• Choose to eat unrefined starch, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread.
• Reduce sugar intake.
• Reduce salt intake. We eat approximately ten times the quantity of salt that we need.
• Reduce the intake of animal fats, whether in the form of meat or dairy products.
• Eat more beans.
• Increase folic acid intake. This is found in green vegetables such as spinach.
• Increase omega-3 fatty acid intake. Use canola oil instead of sunflower oil.
• Eat lots of fruit and vegetables.
• Use olive oil on salads - the cold-pressed virgin olive oil.
• A glass of good red wine a day appears to have beneficial effects.
• Drink tea. Tea is high in antioxidants but keep an eye on the amount of sugar and milk in your tea. Green tea is an excellent cancer fighter.
• Avoid too much sun, and if you are planning to spend a day at the beach or braaing outside with friends always wear sunscreen and a hat.
• Don't delay going to see your doctor if you start developing a symptom that just doesn't feel right.

Can a 'positive attitude' prevent a person from developing cancer?

It is possible that your mind can make or break your attitude. Your body can be adversely affected by your thoughts, actions and words. If you currently have a negative attitude about your life it is possible that over a period of time this could create an illness in your body. Learning relaxation techniques like meditation can help you change negative thought patterns into positive ones before they turn into an illness. It is true that anything is possible so take a good look at which thought patterns you have that may not be of any benefit to you and choose to change them so that you can live a longer, healthier life.