It is possible to prevent 60 percent of cancer deaths by
lifestyle changes, early diagnoses and proven medical interventions,
according to the Israel Cancer Association.
The Israel Cancer Association marked International Cancer Day on February 4, 2012.
Every year, 12.7 million people around the globe are diagnosed with
cancer, and 600,000 die in an average month, a total of 7,200,000 a
year. Estimates are that as the population ages, the world death rate
from cancer will reach 12 million by the year 2030.
In Israel, 28,000 people – adults and children – are diagnosed
yearly, and about 10,000 of them die of it. These figures, said the ICA,
have not only huge personal implications but also major economic and
societal effects.
The World Health Organization has stated in advance of the
international day that of 57 million cases of death in 2008, 36 million
resulted from non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease,
chronic respiratory disease and diabetes complications. If nothing is
done to fight tobacco, the WHO says, the annual number of deaths caused
by smoking will rise from 3.4 million now to 6.3 million in 2030.
The World Economic Forum in 2011 said obesity raises per-capita
expenses for medical care by 36 percent, smoking by 21% and heavy use of
alcohol by 10%. All of these increase the risk of death from cancer.
Annual world expenditure for treating noncommunicable, lifestyle
diseases is $30 trillion, it added.
The forum said in 2009 that
noncommunicable diseases is one of the greatest threats on the world
economy. People with chronic diseases work as many as six hours less per
week.
ICA
Director-General Miri Ziv said that despite the worrisome statistics,
scientific studies show that six cancer deaths out of 10 can be
prevented by living a healthful life, early diagnosis, immunizations and
adequate national allocation for interventions that have been proven
effective.
Cancer is the most damaging disease to the economy. The financial
cost of 13 million new cancer patients each year was $290 billion in
2010. The figure is expected to reach $458b. in another 18 years.
There was good news, though. Breast cancer survival rates per year in Israel grew from 80.5% in 2002 to 86% in 2008.
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) called on the
various national government to allocate money to apply the International
Cancer Treaty in their health systems and reduce death from cancer and
other non-communicable diseases by a quarter in 2025.
The ICA pointed out that in the last decade, the prevalence of
thyroid cancer has increased in all population groups, but especially in
Arab women. It is considered a slowly growing tumor with a low death
rate. While it is less common in the general public, it is more common
in Arabs, even though the rate is very small.
Survival from thyroid
cancer is over 90% over five years.
To avoid a wide variety of cancers, maintain normal weight over the
years, without yo-yo dieting. Exercise regularly and minimize the number
of fattening foods you eat. Youth should exercise daily, if possible,
but at least three times a week. Cut the number of hours you spent
sitting or lying down and watching TV.
Minimize the amount of high-calorie, salty and sugary foods you eat
and prefer vegetables, fiber and fruit. Poultry and fish are much
preferable to red and fatty meat. Prefer baking and cooking to grilling
and frying meat. Whole wheat products are much more healthful that those
made from white flour.
Eating
garlic reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, according to recent
research. There is no evidence, the experts say, that artificial
sweeteners used in normal quantities raise the cancer risk, and they are
preferable to sugar.
There is no agreement among scientists that eating organic foods are
more effective in reducing cancer risks than ordinary food, the ICA
said. Wash produce with water (and soap if possible). Avoid trans fats
that are produced from turning vegetable oil to solid fat such as
margarine.
Source: JPost