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 over 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 one inherited from his/her 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.
Cancer, though a preventable disease, 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 but 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, or 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 percent (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 to over twenty percent (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 over is commemorating the 2015 World Cancer Day. Each year, on 4th February precisely, the World Health Organization (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’s 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 of awareness on cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection, and treatment.
As the World Cancer Day is being observed today, 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 noticed 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, I call on
all health practitioners and stakeholders to, at all cost, strengthen their
crusade targeted to educate 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; prevention is
no doubt, far better than cure. Think about it!
COMR
FRED DOC NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
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