Cancer, a Common Enemy

The cell is the basic unit of all living organisms. It grows and then divides to form new cells. When it develops abnormally and uncontrollably, they call it “Cancer.” Scientists were able to identify about two hundred cancers. In recent years cancer has become a worldwide phenomenon. In 2020 alone, no less than ten million people succumbed to this disease. According to forecasts, we expect that number to increase in the coming years. Therefore, they ranked cancer among the most lethal diseases in the world. One aspect of cancer that is even more dangerous is that despite the progress of science, it is exceedingly difficult to get rid of this disease; even when healed, the process is slow and painful. Whether rich, poor, children, or adults, this disease does not spare anyone. Several factors that determine cancer risk cannot be changed, such as age, sex, and heredity. Nevertheless, cancer is also linked to bad lifestyle habits, which are modifiable. Students from Stony Brook University conducted research and concluded that: “the vast majority — 70 to 90 percent — of your lifetime cancer risk could be due to external factor”. Even if this percentage is debatable, oncologists have agreed that we could prevent 40 to 50% of cancers by adopting healthier lifestyle habits. Scientists from the University of Manchester even went further. They argued that cancer is “man-made.” Doctor Rosalie David from the Faculty of Life Sciences declared: “In industrialized societies, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death. Nevertheless, in ancient times, it was extremely rare. There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So, it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.” (Manchester, 2010)

• Cancer and our environment

As much as a good environment can improve the quality of life, a toxic environment can have the opposite effect. The links between the environment and the appearance of certain cancers are the subject of many studies. Air pollution is one of the leading environmental causes of death from cancer. According to WHO estimates, air pollution is responsible for one in six deaths worldwide, and 19% of cancers are due to environmental factors. Joan H. Schiller, MD, and Christine Berg, oncologist, two active members of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, said that: “Air pollution causes approximately 14% of lung cancer cases worldwide” The sun is an essential part of our life. However, its radiation can cause damage, this including skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays disrupt cells’ DNA, leading to cancerous cells’ appearance. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ultraviolet rays as carcinogenic for humans since 2009. Agrochemicals like pesticides, fertilizers and diesel fuels contain countless harmful substances that also affect the rate of cancer.

• lifestyle habits and cancer

1. Tabacco

Tobacco is the leading cause of all cancers, far ahead of other risk factors. We can link a third of death per year to Tabacco use. They found 4000 chemical substances in Tabacco. Among them, they classified 250 as dangerous to health, and they have identified at least 50 of them as carcinogenic. Tobacco is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. The risk is multiplied by 10 to 15 for a smoker. It is also the first risk factor for bladder cancer. It is responsible for 53% of cases of bladder cancer for men and 39% for women. According to the WHO, there are 1.3 million smokers in the world. This number suggests that the mortality rate due to the inhalation of tobacco is not about to drop.

2. Diet

Diet seems to play a significant role among the factors that influence the risk of developing cancer. They estimated that one in five cancers is food-related. They have not been able to demonstrate that specific food causes or cures cancer. However, our diet can influence the risk of cancer. Food can thus act as protective factor-like fruits and vegetables, or as a risk factor like red meats. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the consumption of processed meats (including luncheon meat) as a proven human carcinogen and the consumption of red meats as a probable human carcinogen.

We can also link our diet to our weight. There is a correlation between cancer and being overweight or obese.

Overweight and obesity promote the development of several types of cancer. In particular, it would increase the individual risk of esophageal cancer by 55% and endometrial Cancer (body of the uterus) by 52%.

Some studies have proven an increased risk (probable level of evidence) of a second primary cancer for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract and the liver. Surprisingly, very little conclusive data is available for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

· Solutions

1. Education

To fight against cancer’s ruthless nature, we must get to know them. Prevention is better than cure. Stopping some of our daily practices or increasing those that protect us against this disease remains the most effective weapon to fight against it. Let us take the example of the most devastating cancer in the world, breast cancer. Most people die from this cancer because the doctors discovered it too late. It is even more unfortunate knowing that there are visible signs allowing the person to suspect the development of this cancer in his body. Every woman should have a self-examination at least once a month, but how many women do it? Some out of negligence, others out of ignorance. Sylvie Bird, a breast cancer survivor, testified that she went to see a Doctor when she notices that her breasts became asymmetric. Thousands more people can testify how detecting the signs early has saved their lives. Knowing what to do or avoid doing to protect yourself from cancer or the signs and symptoms of this disease can only reduce the number of cases.

2. Tax on carcinogenic products.

Several studies have shown that people do not often change behavior that can harm their health even if they are aware of the effects. To fight cancer, the government has a duty to encourage the population to adopt healthy behaviors. One way to do this is to put a tax on all products containing a high percentage of carcinogens. When the price increases unless the product is a necessary good, the demand and therefore the consumption will decrease. The number of outputs will also decrease because the production price will increase. Iceland is the country with the fewest smokers in the world the price of a pack of cigarettes is nearly 11 USD. On the other hand, China has the most tobacco users and the price of a pack of cigarettes is 3 USD.

We have to be realistic; we are living in an overcrowded world, and we certainly cannot produce organic products for everyone. But the government can fund projects aimed at reducing harmful substances in GMOs.

3. Financial factor

The health system must be improved to respond to the increasing rate of cancer cases. It is not only about seeking more doctors but also about the financial aspect.

Cancer greatly affects the economy. In a report published by the WHO, the total cost of treatment for cancer amounted to 895 billion dollars or nearly 2% of the world’s GDP. “It varies from cancer to cancer, but for those who are in a bankruptcy situation — and about 3 percent of cancer patients go bankrupt — the risk of dying is just very, very high,” declared Dr. Scott Ramsey, director of the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes (Hutch Magazine, 2016). They, therefore, found themselves with colossal debts to pay. Some poor families could not even offer the person treatment. As a result, some people prefer to hide their illnesses from their families. Not wanting to be a burden on their family, They had no chance of survival.

The government can subsidize part of the cost of treatment, especially for people in great need. Part of the budget of the Ministry of Health of each country can be dedicated to improving the conditions of patient care. This way, they will feel more confident about going to the hospital.

According to WHO: “Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.” Even though they estimate the number of cases will most likely increase, it is not a fatality. We still have the power in the present to rewrite the future. While on account of technological developments such as nanotools, we can hope to have powerful tools to treat cancer. We all have the duty to take care of our own health by adopting healthy behaviors and keeping ourselves informed of risk factors.

World Health Organization, Cancer, Newsroom(February 2022), https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/can

Manchester University, Scientists suggest that cancer is man-made(2010) https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/scientists-suggest-that-cancer-is-man-made/

HUTCH News Stories, Cancer, bankruptcy and death: study finds a link(2016) https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2016/01/cancer-bankruptcy-death-study-financial-toxicity.

ACS Journal, A Cancer Journal For Clinicians (2022) https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21632

American Cancer Society, The Global Economic Cost of Cancer http://phrma-docs.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/08-17-2010_economic_impact_study.pdf