Cancer has affected nearly everyone. Most of us either know some who has/had a cancer diagnosis or have dealt with it personally. Some troubling news from the World Health Organization has indicated that cancer rates are rising rapidly and are set to almost double in the next two decades.
The WHO estimates that cases will rise from 14 million new diagnoses annually to about 22 million. More people die from cancer every year in the world than from any other disease.
Dr. Christopher Wild, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stated that treating cancer cases just isn't enough. Prevention, he said, is what's important.
Wild helped to create this new report for the IARC. He said, "Despite exciting advances, this Report shows that we cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem. More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally."
So where are cancer cases growing the most? The report stated that Africa, Asia and Central/South America are the regions that are seeing a huge growth in cancer. And about one-third of the cancers reported can be prevented.
Tobacco use is a huge factor, with lung cancer being the leading cause of death over any other cancer. More than 70 percent of global lung cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, Medical News Today reported.
Obesity, alcohol abuse and a sedentary lifestyle are also causes of cancer worldwide. Suggested ways to reduce the risk of cancer are avoiding tobacco, a healthy diet, limiting alcohol use and exercising more.
Cervical cancer is increasing in Third World countries and this kind of cancer is usually caused by the sexually transmitted virus called HPV. Monogamy and the use of condoms can help reduce this risk. Regular Pap tests can aid in an early diagnosis. Doctors need to educate all women of the risks of HPV.
It's not just poorer countries that face the rise in cancer cases. HerWriter Lynette Summerill cited a report in her article for EmpowHER "Government Report: 'U.S. Cancer Care Delivery System in Crisis'" that estimates the growth of cancer rates rising from 1.6 million cases per year to 2.3 million annual diagnoses by 2030. This is a 45 percent increase.
Summerill wrote that "The report (from the School of Medicine and School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles) cited a growing demand for care, a shrinking oncology work force, rising costs of cancer care, and the complexity of the disease and its treatment, as factors that can prevent patients from getting the best possible care.
"An already overstretched cancer care delivery system is facing increased demands as aging baby boomers reach age 65 and older — the segment of the population that accounts for the largest share of new cancer diagnoses."
And again, prevention of cancer in the first place is something that needs far more focus, as well as early diagnosis and treatment. The report also suggested that health care teams rather than singular doctors should take care of patients, and that better communication between doctors and patients is needed. The cost of treating cancer patients also needs to be reduced.
EmpowHER has a great section for cancer information and studies, including nutrition, exercise, ways to help prevent cancer and genetic risks. You can click here for a list of these excellent resources https://www.empowher.com/cancer/content/cancer-resources
Sources:
Medical News Today. WHO: cancer growing at 'alarming pace'. Web. Retrieved Feb. 6th, 2014.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/272122.php
EmpowHER.com. Cancer. Government Report: 'U.S. Cancer Care Delivery System in Crisis'. Web. Retrieved Feb 6th, 2014.
https://www.empowher.com/cancer/content/government-report-us-cancer-care...
Reviewed February 10, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith