World Cancer Day 2006: Focus on Avoidable Causes of Cancer

From: Environment News Service <www.ens-newswire.com>

World Cancer Day 2006: Focus on Avoidable Causes of Cancer

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 3, 2006 (ENS) - World Cancer Day on February 4
is marked this year by a warning from the World Health Organization that
"dramatic increases in risk factors such as tobacco use and obesity" are
contributing to a worldwide rise in cancer rates, particularly in low and
middle income countries, where more than 70 percent of all cancer deaths
occur.

Worldwide, 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people
will die in the next 10 years if action is not taken, the World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates.

WHO has proposed a global goal of reducing death rates for all chronic
diseases by two percent a year from 2006 to 2015. Achievement of this goal
would avert over eight million of the projected 84 million deaths due to
cancer in the next decade. WHO is stepping up its response to meet this
target.

"We must, first and foremost, address the tremendous inequalities between
developed and developing countries in terms of cancer prevention, treatment
and care," said Dr. Catherine Le Galès-Camus, assistant director-general for
noncommunicable diseases and mental health with the United Nations health
agency.

Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer. (Photo
credit unknown)

Preventable risk factors include "many environmental carcinogens," says the
UN health agency. In addition, 40 percent of cancer incidences can be
prevented by a healthy diet, physical activity and not using tobacco.
"Globalization of markets and urbanization is leading to rising consumption
of processed foods high in fats, sugars and salt, as well as tobacco
products; declining consumption of fruit and vegetables; and more sedentary
activity levels. As a consequence the incidence of cancer and other chronic
diseases is increasing," WHO warns.

Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer and causes a
large variety of cancer types such as cancer of the lung, larynx,
oesophagus, stomach, bladder, oral cavity.

World tobacco demand is expected to increase until the year 2010 due to
population and income growth, but at lower rates than in the past, according
to a study published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in
2004. It is the higher demand for tobacco in the developing countries that
drives the world tobacco economy, the report said. Public policy to reduce
tobacco use should focus on demand rather than supply, it suggested.
"Despite our knowledge that many cases are avoidable, or curable when
detected early and treated according to best evidence, sadly for many people
tumors are detected too late and adequate treatment is not available," said
Dr. Le Galès-Camus. "The quality of life of many patients with cancer can be
improved substantially by pain control and palliative care."

The agency says the entry into force this past year of the first WHO global
health treaty - the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) -
is a major step towards the goal of reducing tobacco use, which is the
leading preventable cause of cancer. To date 121 countries are Parties to
the treaty, which entered into force on February 27, 2005.

The first Convention of the Parties of the Treaty meets in Geneva from
February 6 to 17 to plan implementation of the treaty's measures aimed at
curbing tobacco consumption.

³Before I started to work in the garden cooperative my family never had
vegetables. My children didn¹t like vegetables. Now they ask for more,² says
Caracas, Venezuela resident Rafael Plaza, here rinsing some spring onions he
just harvested. (Photo courtesy FAO)

In addition, the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
has provided an approach to reducing key risk factors for cancer and other
chronic diseases. Low fruit and vegetable intake is estimated to cause some
2.7 million deaths each year, and was among the top 10 risk factors
contributing to mortality, according to the World Health Report 2002.
The International Programme on Chemical Safety is a worldwide WHO-guided
network aimed at reducing exposure to carcinogens. Established in 1980, it
is a joint program of three cooperating organizations - the International
Llabor Organization, the UN Environment Programme, and WHO. The program aims
to establish the scientific basis for safe use of chemicals, and to
strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million
deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million, or 13 percent, of
all deaths.

The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality are:

* Lung - 1.3 million deaths/year
* Stomach - almost 1 million deaths/year
* Liver - 662,000 deaths/year
* Colon - 655,000 deaths/year
* Breast - 502,000 deaths/year

Cancer occurs because of changes of the genes responsible for cell growth
and repair. These changes are the result of the interaction between genetic
host factors and external agents which can be categorized as:

* physical carcinogens such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation

* chemical carcinogens such a asbestos and tobacco smoke

* biological carcinogens such as infections by virus such as
hepatitis B virus and liver cancer, as well as the human papilloma virus and
cervical cancer; bacteria such as Helicobater pylori and gastric cancer; and
parasites such as schistosomiasis and bladder cancer.

* contamination of food by mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, products of
Aspergillus fungi, that cause liver cancer.

WHO advocates an integrated approach to prevention, treatment and care for
all leading chronic diseases.

Integrated approaches that combine cancer prevention, diagnosis, management
with that for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases are
necessary because the diseases share common risk factors - tobacco use,
unhealthy diet and physical inactivity - and require similar responses from
the health system. Not only is the integrated approach best for prevention
and treatment, the agency says it is also cost-effective.

Useful Links:
Facts about cancer and WHO's Cancer Control Strategy are available on:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/en/
"Face to face with chronic disease," stories of people living with cancer,
highlighting the misunderstandings surround chronic disease available here.
Cancer Control Strategy at: http://www.who.int/cancer/en/index.html
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/
Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment, a WHO report online here.
The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health at:
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/

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