Cancer - so often preventable and treatable

Every year 12.7 million people discover they have cancer and another 7.6 million die from the disease. And yet as much as 30 to 40% of cancers can be prevented through the adoption of certain healthy behaviours. In addition, another 30% of cancers can actually be cured if they are diagnosed and treated early.  

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, we would like to provide you with some information about cancer and World Cancer Day on 4 February 2011.

What is it?
Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled multiplication of cells in the body and it is not infectious. There are many different types of cancer and different parts of the body can be affected. From the cancerous site the cancer cells may spread until they affect other parts of the body - this is called metastasis. Some cancers spread quickly while others may take many years to develop. It is usually painless at first and the sufferer is unaware of it.

Each year cancer claims more lives than AIDS, malaria and TB combined, making it one of the most devastating diseases of our time. It is therefore important for people to be aware of this disease, particularly as early detection and treatment can save lives. Many cancers can be treated successfully and even cured if they are treated early. Therefore, if you detect unusual lumps or bumps in your body or have ongoing problems with pain, visit your doctor to ensure that you do not have this disease.

World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day was initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in 2005. This day seeks to bring together humanity to fight against this disease which affects so many lives. It also supports those who have survived the illness.

Every year World Cancer Day has a different theme. This year the focus of World Cancer Day is on teaching children and teenagers to be aware of UV exposure and be ‘sun smart'. A large proportion of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the UV rays of the sun, including dangerous melanomas. It is therefore recommended that individuals wear protective clothing, such as sun hats, and to apply sunscreen when they are in the sun. People of African origin are much less likely to have a problem with skin cancer than caucasians, but should still guard against the possibility.

What can be done?
In most cases the causes of cancer are unknown or idiopathic, but there are certain factors that predispose us to certain cancers and certain measures we can take to reduce our chances of getting the disease. We know, for instance, that exposure to carcinogens, radiation, smoking, alcohol addiction, a lack of physical exercise and exposure to certain viruses such as papilloma virus all may increase the risks of cancer. So avoiding risks and changing some of our behaviours may help us to avoid some types of cancers.

Tobacco use
Tobacco is estimated to kill more than five million people a year and its use, especially smoking, is the single most significant cause of cancer in the world. It can help in the development of cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, stomach, breast, cervix, pancreas, bowel, kidney and others. If you do not smoke, make sure you don't start. And if you do smoke, quit . Studies have shown that quitting smoking can reduce the risks of cancer as well as having other important health benefits.

Diet and exercise
Obesity and a lack of physical activity may contribute to the development of a number of different cancers, including kidney, oesophagus and colon. Regular exercise and avoiding foods that are high in saturated fats, sugary foods and drinks, and charred and fried meats can help prevent cancer. A diet rich in vegetables, fruit and whole grains will assist to make us stronger and could also help in preventing cancer.

Environmental carcinogens
There are at times cancer-causing substances, or carcinogens, present in our environment that we should try to avoid. We may, for example, be exposed to chemical pollutants such as asbestos, which is a known carcinogen. Chemicals such as dioxins are also toxic and sometimes find their way into our foods. One way to avoid them is to reduce your intake of animal fats. Cellular telephones emit radiation and care should be taken not to talk on them for too long. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the manufacturing of certain plastics and is unhealthy to ingest. It is thought to increase the risk of breast cancer in some people. BPA may be released in large quantities if hot liquids are put into certain types of plastic bottles. It is therefore wise to avoid putting hot liquids in plastic bottles and to check that your baby's bottles are BPA-free.

Infections
A number of infectious diseases can also cause or increase the risk of cancer. For example, the human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, while hepatitis B and C may cause cancer of the liver. The helicobacter pylori bacteria, meanwhile, may increase the risks of stomach cancer. Infections such as these can be avoided and some may also be vaccinated against.

Keep it healthy
It is vital that we keep ourselves as healthy as we can and abandon bad habits such as smoking if we want to do as much as we possibly can to avoid developing a disease such as cancer. And remember that many types of cancers can be successfully treated as long as they have not been allowed to spread to other parts of the body. Be sure to consult with your doctor if you have any concerns.

For any GEMS member queries, please contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.

Sources:
1. ‘Cancer can be prevented', World Cancer Declaration, www.worldcancerday.org.
2. ‘Our cancer causing world', The Cancer Association of South Africa, www.cansa.org.za.
3. ‘World Cancer Day', World Health Organisation, www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_cancer_day/en/index.html.