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According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Many types of cancers can be cured if detected at an early stage. World Cancer Day aims to spread awareness of this life-threatening disease and emphasises the importance of early detection and screening.
This day is a global initiative established in 2000 by the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC).
The theme for World Cancer Day 2025-2027 is ‘United by Unique’, which explores people-centred cancer care and new ways of bringing a change. This blog will discuss the risk factors of the disease, symptoms, support and treatment.
Understanding Cancer: A Global Health Concern
Cancer includes numerous diseases caused by the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the body, damaging healthy tissues. Over time, it can spread to different body parts, making early detection a crucial step towards treatment. For a better understanding, let’s discuss the three broader categories of cancer:
- Solid cancers: These types develop in epithelial tissues, such as breasts, skin, lungs, and the colon.
- Blood cancers: These types of cancers affect your blood cells and are caused by mutations in DNA within the cells. Some common examples are leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
- Mixed: These have multiple components of cancer. Common types include carcinosarcoma and adenosquamous carcinoma.
Note: Over 10 million lose their lives each year due to cancer. As per WHO, more than 40% of cancers can be prevented through implementing preventive strategies.
Common Symptoms of Cancer
Cancer symptoms vary depending on the type of cancer you’re dealing with. Some general symptoms include;
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Night sweats and fever
- Endless pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Occurrence of moles that frequently change their shape and size
Note: Some organ-specific cancer symptoms include blood in your cough, blood in urine and stool, lumps and bumps
Importance of Early Detection and Screening
Cancer caught in early stages has a much higher survival rate than later stage diagnosis. For example, individuals diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer have a 61% chance of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis. In contrast, the survival rate of those diagnosed at a later stage drops to 7%.
Cancer screening tests can prove to be fruitful in the early detection of the disease. They aim to find signs of cancer in your body before it starts developing any symptoms. These tests find changes in your body before they can turn into cancer. Their only downside is that they aren’t always accurate. While undergoing cancer screening tests, you need to go for physical examination, lab tests, imaging tests and genetic cancer tests.
Risk Factors of Cancer
Some of the suspected risk factors for cancer are mentioned below:
Age: This is one of the biggest factors for developing cancer because the longer we live, the more opportunities our cells get to acquire genetic damage.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Uncontrolled alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver and oesophagal cancer.
Smoking and Tobacco Use: Frequent smoking and tobacco consumption are major causes of lung, throat and mouth cancer.
Sun Exposure: Excessive exposure to sun can result in skin cancer.
Unhealthy diet and obesity: Poor diet and obesity are linked to colon, breast and pancreatic cancer.
Immunosuppressants: These drugs suppress the immune system, making it difficult to detect and destroy abnormal cells.
Lack of physical activity: Being physically inactive contributes to obesity, hormonal imbalance, slower digestion and a weakened immune system. All of these factors promote abnormal cell growth.
Note: Although some risk factors, such as ageing, are unavoidable, limiting exposure to others can reduce one's risk of developing certain cancers.
Steps to Prevent Cancer
Cancer cannot always be prevented, especially if unavoidable risk factors are responsible for causing it. However, the following steps can help in minimising the risk;
- Quit smoking and avoid consuming tobacco
- Include physical activity in your daily routine
- Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight
- Follow a proper diet plan
- Go for regular cancer screening tests.
Treatment of Cancer
With specialised treatments, it is possible to combat the disease. The treatment depends on numerous factors, including your overall health, tumour stage, and the details of your biopsy report. Here are some standard treatment options:
Surgery: This type of treatment involves surgical removal of the cancerous cells and nearby cells to prevent the spread of cancer throughout the body. It is often used for tumours which are confined to one area and are combined with other treatments like chemotherapy to improve outcomes.
Chemotherapy: Cancer chemotherapy involves the use of powerful drugs to kill or slow down the growth of cancerous cells. It can be given orally and through injections. It may be used with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy: This type of cancer treatment involves using powerful beams to eradicate cancerous cells and prevent their further growth. It’s often used in combination with chemotherapy and surgery. In some types of cancers, it also helps in relieving some symptoms.
Targeted therapy: As the name suggests, this type of treatment targets specific genetic mutations in the cancerous cells. Most types of target therapies effectively help in curing caring by interfering with proteins responsible for tumour growth and spread throughout the body.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is focused towards making your immune system capable of identifying the cancerous cells and eliminating them. This approach helps your body’s natural defences attack against cancer cells while reducing damage to healthy tissues.
The Importance of Support for Cancer Patients
Going through cancer treatment is a difficult journey. It impacts the patient physically as well as mentally. Dealing with side effects and the uncertainty of recovery can be a lot to process. This is where emotional support can go a long way in maintaining their overall well-being.
Many research studies have shown that having a strong support system in place can help cancer patients feel less isolated. Therefore, if you know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, ensure that they have the support they deserve.
They might be experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, so the best you can do is to be sensitive to their feelings and offer reassurance. If you feel unsure about offering support, reach out to cancer support groups that can help them in the best possible ways.
Summing it Up!
Fighting with cancer doesn't come easy. However, with early detection, right treatment and a strong support system, the journey becomes less challenging. Along with emotional support, having Cancer health insurance helps in relieving the financial burden from the shoulders of cancer patients and their families. It ensures the patient receives the care they need without the added burden of finances.
>> Also Read: Importance of Stomach Cancer Awareness
Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Verifying the policy details and coverage with the official policy documents is essential when purchasing health insurance. Also, kindly consult a professional medical expert to confirm the details of your health concerns.
References:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/24118-cancer-screening https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/what-is-blood-cancer/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588
