Nwaozor: A word on World Cancer Day

CANCER, also known as malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the tendency of invading or spreading to other parts of the body. Possible signs and symptoms of cancer include a new lump, prolonged cough, abnormal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a change in bowel movements, among others. While these symptoms may indicate the occurrence of cancer, it is also worthy to note that they may occur due to other medical issues.

    Cancer, which can occur in more than one hundred different ways in the human body, is mainly caused by either uncalled practices or dietary risks such as tobacco smoking, incessant intake of alcoholic drinks, obesity, low fruit and vegetable consumptions, lack of physical activities, as well as certain infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and human papillomavirus. Some cases of cancer could also be as a result of genetic defects inherited from the parents.

     Cancer can be detected by certain signs and symptoms or by screening tests. It is typically further investigated by medical imaging and confirmed by biopsy. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical and colorectal cancer.

     Although a preventable disease, cancer is indeed a human frightening and deadly medical condition that can occur in any essential organ in the body including stomach, lung, breast, kidney, liver, heart, eye, nose, skin, cervical, bone, brain, just to mention a few. Many cancerous growths can be prevented by not indulging in smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, being vaccinated against certain infectious diseases, not eating too much red meat, coupled with avoidance of regular exposure to sunlight and urban air pollution.

   Cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapy or sometimes, a combination of all. In a typical cancer treatment, pain and symptom management are an important and basic part of care. Palliative care is particularly recommended for patients suffering from advanced cancer condition.

    The chance of survival solely depends on the type of cancer and the extent of the disease as at the time the treatment commenced. In children under the age of fifteen (15) at diagnosis, the ‘five-year survival rate’ in the developed world is on average eighty per cent (80%).

  In 2012, about 14.1 million new cases of cancer occurred globally, not including skin cancer. Statistics show that the outbreak caused about 8.2 million deaths or 14.6% of all human deaths in the aforementioned year. This implies that in near future if adequate care is not taken, cancer cases might be responsible for over twenty per cent (20%) of death rate in the world.

    The most common kinds of cancer in males include lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer; whilst in females, breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers are mostly common. Diagnosing a new cancer in pregnant women is difficult, because any symptom is commonly assumed to be a normal discomfort associated with pregnancy. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are mainly common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often.

    The risk of cancer increases significantly in regard to the age of the potential sufferer, and several cancers occur more often in developed countries. Unequivocally, cancer rate increases on a daily basis as more people live to an old age and as lifestyle changes are regularly witnessed in the developing world.

   Today, Wednesday, February 4, the world is commemorating the 2015 World Cancer Day. Each year, on same day precisely, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) supports Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.

   The annual World Cancer Day was formally adopted in Geneva, Switzerland by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 1933 through the remarkable efforts of the UICC and other world prominent cancer societies, in order to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration. The primary aim of the Day is to significantly reduce illnesses and death caused by cancer via raising awareness on cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection, and treatment.

    As the World Cancer Day is being observed, there is an urgent need for every one of us to detest any form of uncalled or unhealthy lifestyle such as tobacco smoking, intake of hard drugs like cocaine, regular consumption of alcoholic drinks and what have you, that could jeopardize our precious lives. In the same vein, there is also need for us to be extremely mindful of whatever we eat or drink at all times. We should also not forget that adequate and instant treatment of any illness or infection we notice in our body remains one of the major avenues of embracing a cancer-free society.

   Those suffering from the disease ought to continually and strictly adhere to their treatment procedures and should endeavour to consult their physicians when necessary. They should also ensure that they are placed on proper dietary like regular consumption of vegetables and fruits. In addition, we are expected to comprehend the fact that early detection of cancer enables adequate eradication of the disease from the body of the sufferer. Thus, there is need for us irrespective of age to go for constant cancer testing or screening.

    On this note, all health practitioners and stakeholders are urged to, at all cost, strengthen their crusade targeted at educating the entire public on the dangers and possible causes of cancer, so that, we shall all live to celebrate a cancer-free world as it is widely anticipated by the global society. Don’t forget that prevention is far better than cure, no doubt. Think about it!

• Nwaozor, a public affairs analyst and civil rights activist, wrote via [email protected]