Believe it or not, cancer has afflicted people for several centuries. It is not a new disease. In fact, it is because of early research that we hold a greater knowledge of cancer today.
The word cancer came from the father of medicine, Hippocrates – a Greek physician. The Greek terms actually were words to describe a crab, which Hippocrates thought resembled a tumour.
The world’s oldest documented case of cancer hails from ancient Egypt, in 1500 B.Cc. The details were recorded on a papyrus, documenting eight cases of tumours occurring on the breast. It was treated by cauterization, a method to destroy tissue with a hot instrument called “the fire drill.”
There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians were able to tell the difference between malignant and benign tumours. According to inscriptions, surface tumours were surgically removed in a similar manner as they are removed today.
For those of you who may not know, cancer is uncontrolled rapid growth of group of cells. Benign is localised and cause no destruction to local tissue. Malignant destroys the local tissue, spread by lymph nodes and blood – it causes seeding/metastasis to other places in our body.
Cancers are primarily an environmental disease with 90-95% of cases attributed to environmental factors and 5-10% due to genetics. Common environmental factors that contribute to cancer death includes tobacco(30%), diet and obesity(30%), infections(20%), radiation 10%) and stress/lack of physical activity and environmental pollutants (10%).
Tobacco is associated with many cancers and causes about 90% of lung cancer
A High salt diet predisposes stomach cancer
Betel Nut (Supari) chewing can cause oral cancer
Red meat and the lack of fibre in a diet may cause colon cancer
Viruses also can cause some cancers as follows:
Human Papiloma Virus causes Cervical cancer
Hepatitis C and B can cause Liver Cancer
Herpes Virus can cause Kaposis’s Sarcoma
Heredity can also predispose to cancer about 5% total cancers. Certain gene mutations may cause breast or ovarian cancers. Retinoblatoma or eye cancer has a strong genetic basis. Down Syndrome children are at very high risk for Leukemia/Blood Cancer.
DIAGNOSIS
Many cancers may have minimal symptoms and are picked up by screening. Common examples are as follows:
Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer
Mammograms for Breast cancer
PSA for Prostate Cancer
Stool check for blood for Colon cancer
Biopsy, colonoscopy may be necessary. Regular follow up with a cancer specialist called an Oncologist is also very important CT scan, X-ray, If screening shows concerns then further tests such as Blood test,
TREATMENT
Treatment depends on the type of cancer, location, grade of tumour, what stage it is at, and the general health of the patient. Surgery is commonly used to remove the bulk of tumour and chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells by medicine. Radiation therapy helps to melt certain cancers
In 2008, 7.6 Million people worldwide died from various cancers. This accounts for 13% of all deaths.
Lung Cancer (1.3 Million Deaths)
Stomach Cancer (803,000 Deaths)
Colon Cancer (639,000 Deaths)
Liver Cancer (610,000 Deaths)
Breast Cancer (519,000 Deaths)
Global cancer rates have been increasing primarily due to an aging population and lifestyle change in the developing world. In the developed world, one in three people will be diagnosed with invasive cancer during their lifetime.
What should we do?
1. Maintain healthy lifestyles
2. Avoid toxins such as, tobacco, alcohol, etc.
3. Daily physical activity
4. Screening at certain ages
5. Eat more green vegetables
6. Follow through on advice given by your physician
7. Meditate to have better mental health
For more information contact your physician or visit the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca
By Dr. Pargat Bhurji