What is Cancer and How to prevent From cancer?

Although many think that this condition can not be avoided, there are many measures that help control it to appear or progress. Carolina Wiesner, director of the National Institute of Cancerology explains what they are.

The cancer is increasing. The most recent figures indicate that in the world there are 14 million new cases and in 2030 there will be 21 million. In Colombia, between 60 and 70 thousand new cases are diagnosed each year and in 2035 that number will increase to 153 thousand cases. By 2050 these will triple. The reason is that people today live longer and age is a risk factor for cancer. In addition, individuals have changed their lifestyle and today the environment in which they live favors more the appearance of this type of tumors.

Although that may sound bleak, the message of the institutions working in the fight against cancer is positive. There are advances in treatment that make this group of diseases not a death sentence as it was before. In addition, prevention and early detection have become important allies to keep it under control.

Prevention is important because it is estimated that one third of cancer disease is avoided by controlling risk factors, with changes in policies, in community conditions as well as in individual behavior. A specific example is tobacco and in fact, according to Carolina Wiesner, director of the National Institute of Cancerology, with the anti-tobacco policies adopted in the country, as well as the decision of smokers to stop smoking, the rate of smoking was reduced. cancer mortality associated with this consumption, such as the larynx oral cavity, larynx esophagus and lung.

Early detection is another form of prevention because it is demonstrated that there are types of cancer that have previous stages (pre-cancer) and if it is detected and treated, its occurrence is being avoided. The classic example of this is cancer of the colon and rectum, because before it manifests, asymptomatic polyps form in the intestine that may have imperceptible bleeding. "But with a test known as fecal occult blood it can be detected. When the test is positive, the patient undergoes a colonoscopy and if a polyp is seen, it is removed. That single action prevents the emergence of cancer, "says Wiesner. The same happens with cervical cancer, which starts with pre-cancer. If treatment is done, prevention is being done.

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According to the official, it is not easy to inculcate prevention among people because their result is intangible. Many who do not have lung or laryngeal cancer today are free of this disease thanks to anti-smoking policies. But nobody realizes it, "only the indicators," says Wiesner. In addition, it is often difficult to put prevention measures into practice. Physical activity, for example, is difficult for those who come to work at seven in the morning and return home at 9 o'clock in the evening. "Eating fruits and vegetables is another measure but it is not fulfilled if they are not available in the workplace, or if the school offers junk food."

The reality is that it takes an effort from all sectors to control cancer. "That is why the message on this day is 'I can, we can'". This initiative seeks to make this disease visible in society in a positive way and not linked to the image of death. "We all must do a bit because changing habits is not easy," says Wiesner.

It is available: When the tumor comes back

The actions that decrease the risk of cancer are:

No smoking: it is confirmed that tobacco smoke increases the risk of certain types of cancer such as lung, esophagus, oral cavity and larynx.

Vaccinate against HPV: the human papilloma virus is the cause of cervical cancer. Therefore vaccinate girls and adolescents against this virus significantly decreased the likelihood of suffering from this disease in the future, because the vaccine covers two of the 15 most frequent and aggressive viruses

Vaccinate against hepatitis B: another virus that causes liver cancer is hepatitis B. But there is a vaccine to prevent that infection.

Exercise: helps regulate weight and suppress stress, among other benefits

Eat balanced: include in the diet many fruits and vegetables because they help to cleanse the body, It is also recommended to reduce the consumption of red meat and lower the intake of ultra-processed foods.