One of the Top 10 Deadliest Diseases
When people think of the deadliest diseases in the world, their minds most probably jump to the fast-acting, incurable diseases that grab the headlines from time to time. But in fact, most of these types of diseases do not rank in the top 10 causes of worldwide deaths. Cancer ranks in these top 10 causes of worldwide deaths, which are fast-acting and incurable. Most chronic cancers cannot be cured, but some can be controlled for months or even years.
WHAT IS CANCER?
Cancers have been known to mankind since ancient times. Cancer is a disease caused when abnormal cells proliferate uncontrollably and spread into the surrounding tissues. These abnormal cells are called cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumour cells. Cancer cells can detach from the original mass of cells and get transported into other tissues through the blood vessels or lymph vessels. So, several different parts of the body may be affected by cancer.
Do we all have cancer cells in our bodies? No, we don’t all have cancer cells in our bodies. Our bodies are constantly producing new cells by mitotic cell division to replace the dead and injured cells of the body, some of which have the potential to become cancerous. At any given moment, we may produce cells that have damaged DNA, due to long-term exposure to carcinogens. I think that understanding a cancer diagnosis is an important part of learning how to live beyond the disease.
The risk factors of the cancers include,
- Genetic factors
- Some viral infections
- Chemicals (tobacco, smoke, aflatoxin)
- Harmful radiation
- Smoking
- Alcoholism
Cancer History
Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumours in human mummies in ancient Egypt, and references to the same have been found in ancient manuscripts. Bony skull destruction as seen in cancer of the head and neck has been found, too. The disease was first called cancer by the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates.
The commonest cancers in the world
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Liver cancer
- Oesophagus cancer
- Cervix uteri cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Bladder cancer, etc
Lung cancers are the commonest cancer in the world and cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. Using other tobacco products such as cigars, pipes, also increases the risk for lung cancer. According to the statistics, worldwide, over 18 million new cancer cases and over 9 million cancer-related deaths are reported each year. Currently. The commonest cancer type in Sri Lanka is oral cancer. The main cause of this cancer is betel chewing and smoking. Most commonly this cancer occurs in middle-aged and older individuals. Southeast Asia is the cradle of betel chewing. So, this culture has been a cause for the rise of oral cancer patients in these regions. Approximately, over 20000 new cancer cases and over 14000 cancer deaths are reported from Sri Lanka every year.
How Children are Affected by cancer?
A cancer diagnosis is upsetting at any age, but especially so when the patient is a child. How upsetting is it for a mother when her child is diagnosed with cancer? It’s natural to have many questions like, Who should treat my child? Will my child get well? Why does all this happen to my child? Not all questions have answers. Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults but, there are differences. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly without early symptoms and have a high rate of cure unlike in adults. The most common types of cancers diagnosed in children are leukaemias, brain, and other central nervous system tumours. Each year, approximately 400 000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer.
Types of cancer treatment
There are no cures for any kind of cancer, but there are treatments that may cure you. There are many types of cancer treatments. Treatment modalities available for cancers can be divided into 3 types.
- Radiotherapy
– A high dose of radiation is used to kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy
–Cytotoxic chemicals (drugs) are used to kill cancer cells.
- Surgical excision of the tumour
- Hormone therapy
- A cancer treatment that slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow
- Immunotherapy
-New form of cancer treatment that uses the immune system to attack the cancer cells
The type of treatment depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments such as surgery with chemotherapy or surgery with radiotherapy and chemotherapy… When you have to get treatments for cancer you have a lot to think about and know. It is normal to feel confused. But talking with your doctor, learning about the types of treatments can help you feel more in control. Do cancer treatments cost a lot? Ohh yeah they really cost a lot. They cost more than four times higher than treatment for other common health conditions.
Billroth, Handley, and Halsted are the pioneers of cancer surgery. Dr William Halsted, professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University, developed radical mastectomy during the last decade of the 19th century for breast cancers. Also, due to his success in cancer surgeries, the death toll from cancers, which were considered incurable and life-threatening diseases, was much lower in those days.
Reducing the cancer burden
According to the WHO, currently, between 30 to 50% of cancers can be prevented by avoiding the risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. Also, the cancer burden can be reduced by the early detection of cancer, appropriate treatment, and care of patients. Many cancers have a high rate of a cure if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
What can you do to reduce your cancer risk?
Reducing the risk factors for cancers is very important as the number of new cancer cases increases day by day. Investigators from cancer research UK, have claimed that 1 in 3 people in the UK will develop cancer in their lifetime. So, you can have an idea about how common this disease is among people now.
Cancer risk can be reduced by,
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Limiting the alcohol intake
- Being physically active
- Not using tobacco
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Avoiding ultraviolet radiation
- Ensuring safe and appropriate use of radiation for health care
- Reducing exposure to air pollution
- Ensuring your children get hepatitis B and HPV vaccines
- Taking part in cancer screening programs
There are many mental health problems that arise as a result of cancer. Anxiety and depression are more prevalent in patients treated for cancer than in the general population. You can support people you know to seek medical advice if they are worried about a symptom. Make contact with them if they are diagnosed with cancer, discuss what support can be offered, care about them, don’t let them feel lonely, keep things normal, be there always with them.
Extra blood is critical to many people with cancer, during and after treatments. If you can donate your blood for them, it’s so great. Certain cancer treatments can cause hair loss. A wig can provide self-confidence, hope, and strength for people who are experiencing this emotionally challenging side effect. So, people who are willing to help them can donate their hair also.
(reference:- news-medical.net )
Written by: Nethmi Navodya
