SHA’ABAN 5, 1429 A.H.
THURSDAY AUGUST 7 2008
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Cancer: World`s worst killer
By Emmanuel Acha
Cancer is a very serious disease in which cells in one part of the body start to grow in a way that is not normal and kill the normal cells.
Often, it results in death.
According to the American Cancer Society (TACS), a voluntary heath organisation dedicated to the elimination of cancer, the disease is of different types and can affect any part of the body.
The commonest forms of cancer are breast cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer.
Others include lung cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.
According to experts, breast cancer, which can occur at any age, is much more likely to occur after age 40.
Endometrial cancer, which affects the uterus, is mostly found among women from 50 years.
According to TACS, taking estrogen with progesterone, or taking tamoxifen for breast cancer treatment or to lower the risk of breast cancer, may increase a woman’s chances of suffering the disease.
‘’Having an early onset of menstrual periods, late menopause, a history of infertility or not having children can increase the risk too,’’
TACS says.
It is also prevalent among women who are obese, the organisation adds.
According to TACS, ovarian cancer is more likely to occur in women who have never had children, or have their first child after age 30.
Cervical cancer, on its part, affects only women who have been sexually active, especially those hosting the virus called Human Papilloma Virus, which is passed through sex.
The cause of this cancer type has also been attributed to the presence of HIV, poor nutrition and absence of regular tests.
On skin cancer, TACS notes that people with fair skin, especially those with blonde or red hair, are at a greater risk, compared to those with a darker skin.
People who spend a lot of time under the sun are also at risk.
Dr James Balch, a urologist and member of the American Surgical Association, says the prostate is a ‘’walnut-sized gland’’ located just under the bladder in adult males.
According to him, it is said to be the leading cause of cancerous death among non-smoking men.
Prostate cancer is a silent killer that produces distressing and sometimes embarrassing symptoms, he says.
Its treatment sometimes causes impotence.
Balch describes prostate cancer as a ‘’time bomb ticking away deep in every male’’.
According to him, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates show that 80 per cent of men will eventually need treatment for prostate problems.
Of that figure, one in three will need an operation, he says.
Dr William Fair, Chief of Urology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, says after a recent research that 50 per cent of men in their 50s and 70 per cent in their 60s have some degree of prostate
enlargement. According to him, even at the age of 30, up to 25 per cent of men have some prostate cancer cells in their systems.
He says that in effect not only older men have prostate cancer.
‘’In autopsies of men who die of other causes,
a third of those over 30 have microscopic clusters of prostate cancer cells,’’ Fair states.
It is perhaps because of its devastating effects that Dr Eucharia Iwuanyanwu, the Director, African Cancer Prevention Group (ACPG), a non-governmental health organisation, based in Houston, Texas, U.S., described cancer as ‘’an emerging number one world killer disease’’.
Iwuanyanwu, who made this statement when ACPG paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia, described the disease as a ‘’deadly one’’ that could affect the psychology of the family.
‘’Cancer is not like malaria; it is a dangerous threat to life and has been killing people all over the world more than HIV and AIDS,’’ she said.
She suggested that everyone should be sensitised to the existence of the scourge in order to curb its prevalence.
Iwuanyanwu, who said that ACPG had the mandate to address the increasing cases of cancer in Africa, told Orji that her team was in the state to carry out a five-day free cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She pointed out that a recent cancer survey by the WHO showed that by the year 2020, Africa would witness a million deaths arising from cancer.
More than 5,000 of such cases would come from Nigeria.
‘’It is to check that danger that we decided to come together to do advocacy and work with government to bring the expertise that is required to tackle this menace,’’ she told Orji.
According to her, the team is expected to work with communities so that they will build self-sustaining health projects that will see them live a cancer-free life.
Dr Charity Egwuekwe, the Medical Director, Amachara General Hospital, Umuahia, who briefed newsmen on the team’s work, said it was ‘’an eye opener’’.
‘’The cancer counselling, diagnosis and treatment are an eye opener. My heart bleeds over the high cancer prevalence in the state,’’ she said.
According to her, the medical experts were alarmed to discover that such cases were not noticed until they had reached advanced stages.
‘’The best defence against the disease remains early detection,’’ Egwuekwe said.
To guard against cancer, she suggested that women should have mammogram each year starting at age 40.
‘’That should continue for as long as they are in good health and I will also suggest that women should report any breast change to their doctors without delay.’’
According to the doctor, colon cancer usually starts with a polyp, but tests can save lives by finding polyps before they become cancerous.
‘’If pre-cancerous polyps are removed, then colon cancer can be removed,’’ she said, noting that eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables might also make one less likely to have it.
On endometrial cancer, she advised women to watch out for signs and symptoms such as unusual spotting or bleeding not related to menstrual periods.
‘’Such should be reported to their doctors,’’ she said, adding, however, that pap test was good at detecting cancer of the cervix, but not reliable for early diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
According to her, prostate cancer can usually be found in its early stages by having a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), especially starting from age 50.
As the world strives to curb the incidence of cancer, medical practitioners harp on the need for greater publicity on its causes, symptoms and devastating effects.
Only an enlightened society can fight cancer since it can be effectively tackled if detected early. (NANFeatures)
