JOIN USThe World Health Organisation’s (WHO) warning that the number of new cancer cases may rise by about 70 per cent globally over the next two decades shows the seriousness of the threat the world is facing from the disease. The warning was issued on the occasion of the World Cancer Day last week. No other non-infectious affliction has such a high possibility of incidence as cancer. About 9 million people died of various types of cancer all over the world last year and there were 14 million new cases. More than half of the cases were from poor countries in Asia, Africa and South America, with over 1.1 million cases being reported from India. It is estimated that five lakh people die of cancer every year in India. There is a view that the various forms of cancer may have accounted for more deaths in history than from any other disease.
Some individuals may have a propensity to cancer but a large number of cases are caused by factors which can be controlled or regulated. About one-third of cancer cases are caused by unhealthy habits, behaviour and diets. They range from sedentary lifestyles, increased weight, low physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake to consumption of unhealthy and ill-cooked food and use of tobacco. Tobacco causes about 70 per cent of lung cancer deaths and account for 20 per cent of all cancer deaths. A good number of cancer afflictions can be avoided if people reduce the risk from these factors with their habits and lifestyles. Public health authorities should spread awareness about them and take appropriate action to curb the consumption of harmful food items and tobacco products. Increasing environmental pollution is another major factor. This can be dealt with only at the collective and governmental levels. In some areas the efforts have to range from the local to the global levels.
Cancer imposes a heavy strain on the finances of individuals and families because the treatment is often costly and long. There is the need to set up more treatment centres and dedicated hospitals and to expand insurance coverage. It is also necessary to spread greater awareness about the disease. Early detection and treatment of the disease is very important. About one-third of cancer cases can be cured and 30-40 per cent deaths avoided if the disease is detected early enough. So, cancer screening programmes should be further expanded. Private agencies and NGOs are active in the area but governments have a greater responsibility.