#WorldCancerDay
- ciaralitchfield
- Feb 4, 2015
- 3 min read
Today is world Cancer day. It’s a day to remember those who lost their fight to cancer as well as celebrating those who survived. I thought I would summarise some of the facts and have a look at the progress we are making in finding a cure.
Childhood Cancers
In the UK Cancer is one of the main killers of children and young people with around 10 children being diagnosed each day. Cancers in children are much more rare than in adults and although the type of cancerchildren get is different treatment is often the same. Childhood cancers include:
Acute leukaemias - diagnosed in 1 in 3 children with cancer
Cancers of the brain and spinal cord - diagnosed in 1 in 4 children with cancer
Retinoblastoma (a type of eye cancer)
Neuroblastoma (a cancer of nerve cells)
Wilm’s tumours (a type of kidney cancer)
Muscle or bone cancers, such as osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewings sarcoma
Lymphoma (cancer that starts in the lymphatic system)
There are some associated risk factors with the development of childhood cancers such as Inherited medical conditions problems with development in the womb, Exposure to infections or radiation and previous cancer treatments.
Despite the obvious trauma associated with childhood cancers there is some good news. Over the last 40 years cancer deaths in children have fallen by an amazing 60%.
Adult cancers
Research predicts that 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their life. The main reason for this is the aging population, we are more susceptible to many diseases as we age and cancer is no exception. Breast, lung, prostate and bowel and the most common type of cancers accounting for over half (53%) of all new cases.
In 2011 the prevalence of gender specific cases was as below:
Males (167,487 cases)
Prostate = 25%
Lung = 14%
Bowel = 14%
Other = 47%
Females (164,000 cases)
Breast = 30%
Lung = 12%
Bowel = 11%
Other = 47%
Over the last 40 years survival rates have doubled thanks to the help of research.
Lifestyle factors
4 in 10 Cancers can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. The following areas have been taken from a recent CRUK Infographic showing areas that have been proven to reduce your risk of getting cancer.
Being smoke free – Not smoking could prevent 64,500 cases of cancer each year in the UK (37,200 of them lung)
Keeping a healthy weight - Could prevent 18,100 cases of cancer each year in the UK (5,400 of them bowel)
Eating fruit and Veg - could prevent 15,100 cases of cancer each year in the UK (3,800 of them lung)
Drinking less alcohol - could prevent 12,800 cases of cancer each year in the UK (4,800 of them bowel)
Being Sun smart - could prevent 11,500 cases of cancer each year in the UK (all of them malignant melanoma)
Eating less red and processed meat - could prevent 8,000 cases of cancer each year in the UK (all of them bowel)
Eating a diet high In fibre - could prevent 5,100 cases of cancer each year in the UK (all of them bowel)
Being active - could prevent 3,400 cases of cancer each year in the UK (1,700 of them breast)
Eating less salt - could prevent 1,700 cases of cancer each year in the UK (all of them stomach)
Other factors
Other risk factors to consider include:
Minimising risk of exposure at work e.g. aerosols - could prevent 12,100 cases of cancer each year in the UK
Minimising certain infections e.g. EBV or HPV - could prevent 10,600 cases of cancer each year in the UK
Minimising radiation such as unnecessary X-rays - could 6,100 cases of cancer each year in the UK
Breastfeeding your child if possible - could prevent 2,700 cases of cancer each year in the UK
Minimising time spent on HRT - could prevent 1,700 cases of cancer each year in the UK
To join CRUK, write who you’re uniting with on your hand and share your photo using #WeWillUnite, then text UNITE to 70200 to donate £3 and help build a future without cancer. Today, #WeWillUnite. Today, we will make a difference.
Text costs £3 plus 1 standard rate text. CRUK receives £2.93. Closes 28/02/15. UK mobiles, 16+ only. Ts&Cs at www.cruk.org/text. Queries? 0300 1231861.
