Cancer: A leading cause of death

BACOLOD. February is cancer awareness and prevention month. (Contributed photo)
BACOLOD. February is cancer awareness and prevention month. (Contributed photo)

BEFORE the onset of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the entire world has been battling for so long against cancer which is considered one of the dreaded illnesses mankind has ever known.

In fact, a report from the world health organization (WHO) showed that cancer is among the leading causes of death in the world.

In 2020, about 10 million died of cancer or one in every six deaths, WHO added.

Dr. Frederic Ivan Ting, who is the medical oncology consultant of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, said cancer is a genetic disease.

Cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs or the process is referred to as metastasis.

Ting said most often cancer is caused by risk factors such as smoking, incorrect diet, obesity, exposure to toxins, heavy alcohol intake, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyle among others or if not it could be genetic.

Normally, cells in the body are destined to work through a specific function in a given timeline and when these cells grow old or damaged, they are programmed to die and removed from the body and will be replaced with new ones, he said.

If this process is disrupted, like in cancer, tumor cells grow and enlarge beyond their timeline and pre-destined function, he also said.

WHO reported that the most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were lung cancer at 1.8 million deaths, colon and rectum at 916,000, liver at 830,000, stomach at 769,000 and breast at 685,000.

Each year, the agency added, approximately 400,000 children develop cancer.

Ting said cancers can be detected through various screening producers like mammography and early detection means a high chance of survival for the patient.

“Among the red flags for cancer includes exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, lumps, body pains, skin changes, persistent cough, changes in bowel and bladder habits and easy bleeding or bruising of a body part,” he said.

“Treating cancers has many options depending on the stage and type of cancer and the general health,” he also said.

Ting added that it will be best to seek help from a multi-disciplinary team to treat cancer.

The doctor stressed that cancer treatment may be done through surgery or systemic therapy like chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and above all supportive care from family and loved ones.

As we observe the cancer awareness and prevention month this February, let us ponder the importance of educating ourselves against this disease that left many people in the world devastated.

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