CAUSES OF CANCER (1)
On Tuesday, the 4th of February 2014, a day observed globally as Worlds Cancer Day, the World Health Organisation declared cancer the World’s biggest killer. Fourteen million new cases were reported globally in 2012, while 8.2 million people died of cancer globally in the same year. The yearly figure of new cases is expected to use to about 22 million in the next twenty (20) years.
On Tuesday, the 4th of February 2014, a day observed globally as Worlds Cancer Day, the World Health Organisation declared cancer the World’s biggest killer. Fourteen million new cases were reported globally in 2012, while 8.2 million people died of cancer globally in the same year. The yearly figure of new cases is expected to use to about 22 million in the next twenty (20) years.
The commonest cancers reported in 2012 are:- Lung cancer, breast cancer, large intestine cancer, Prostrate cancer, Liver cancer, cancer of the cervix and Non-Hodgkin-Lymphonic (NHL)
Some of the causes of cancer are discussed below:
1. Tobacco
Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking increase the risk of lung, laryngeal and mouth cancers. Seventy five (75) percent of lung and laryngeal cancers are due to tobacco while sixty six (66) percent of this number is due to tobacco chewing.
Research claims active smokers have twenty (20) times more risk than non- smokers, passive smokers (those who do not smoke but breathe in the smoke) have about of two (2) times more risk than non-smokers.
The effect of smoking is related to duration of smoking, number of sticks a day and amount of smoke taken in.
2. Alcohol
There is an association between alcohol and some cancers. These cancers include – cancer of the mouth, of the throat, liver and breast. The risk is about five (5) to ten (10) times higher in heavy drinkers than in those who do not take alcohol.
Alcohol is said to contain something that increases the risk of cancer particularly that of the mouth and throat.
3. Occupational Exposures
The type of work done by persons is very important in certain types of cancer such as cancer of the lung, the scrotum, skin, nose and bladder. This is due to exposure to some chemicals at place of work; the incriminated chemicals include – asbestos, benzene, soot, silica, arsenic, nickel, and coal tars.
4. Environmental Pollution
Our physical environment – air, water and soil – can increase our risk of developing of cancers. Polluted air by chemicals (fumes, smoke), if inhaled increases the risk of lung cancer; those living near refineries, incinerators are especially at risk of cancer of the bladder, skin and lungs.
Soil, contaminated by pesticides affects the food chain – taken up by plants which are later eaten by man, is also incriminated in some cancers.
Water polluted by toxic wastes also increases the risk of some cancers
5. Diet
Diet is said to account for about 20 percent of cancers in the developing world. Regular and adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables gives some protection against cancer of the throat, lungs, stomach, cervix, colon and rectum. Salt intake is said to have relationship with cancer of the stomach, red meat with cancer of the colon and rectum by about 25 and 67 percent increase in risk. Obesity is also linked to some cancers. Vitamins and minerals are also said to be protective against cancer of the prostate, colon and rectum.
6. Food Contaminants.
As said earlier, contaminated soil can affect the food chain, plants take up these contaminants, these plants when consumed by man, pass on the contaminants. Chemicals that can contaminate the soil include pesticides such as DDT. DDT is associated with cancer of the pancreas, breast and lymph nodes.
Processing of food, frying of meat and preserving of food can give rise to some products which can cause cancer.
During storage, certain foods such as corn, groundnut and dry fish can be contaminated by some yeast like fungus which contains aflatoxins; the latter can cause cancer.
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