The World Health Organization has warned that without urgent action, global cancer deaths will dramatically increase from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030. Each year, more than 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer. In Peninsular Malaysia, nearly 70,000 new cases were reported between 2003 and 2005. According to WHO at least 30 per cent of all cancers could have been prevented through simple measures such as adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, no tobacco use and protection against cancer-causing agents.
• No tobacco use: Smoking causes 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.
• A healthy diet and regular exercise: There is consistent evidence that taking regular physical activity reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer. High fibre intake (27g a day) is associated with 20 percent lower risk of bowel cancer, whereas red and processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer, and a high intake of salt and salt-preserved foods increases the risk of stomach cancer. Evidence indicates that being overweight or obese (body mass index above 25) increases the risk of developing cancers of the womb, kidney, oesophagus, stomach, colon, breast (in postmenopausal women), prostate, gall bladder and pancreas. Excessive exposure to the sun or artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation such as sunbeds increases the risk of skin cancer.
• Limited alcohol use: Alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box, breast, bowel and liver.
• Protection against cancer-causing infections: Close to 22 per cent of cancer deaths in developing countries and six per cent in industrialized countries are caused by chronic infections such as Hepatitis B or C viruses (which cause cancer of the liver), human papillomavirus (which causes cervical cancer) and helicobacter pylori bacteria (which increases the risk of stomach cancer)
About one-third of the cancer burden could be decreased if cases were detected and treated early. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to protect yourself from cancer
Extracted from the New Straits Times (February 3, 2010)
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