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Dr. Swati Piramal is the Chief Scientific Officer of Nicholas-Piramal
India Ltd. and Piramal Hospital. She is the co-author
of Eat Your Way to Good Health, a complete fitness guide
for the family. Her e-mail address is spiramal@vsnl.com |
Newspaper and Tabloid headlines regularly inundate
people with news about cancer risks. Hundreds of consumer
goods from hair dyes to mobile phones are said to be cancer
risks. Public confusion about cancer prevention, is made worse
by news coverage that indiscriminately reports even preliminary
research findings. Truly, the public's perception of what
they should do to maintain their good health, changes moment
to moment, depending on the latest headline. An ordinary person
person frustrated by the cacophony of contradictory advice,
even tunes out accurate information.
The "Harvard Report on Cancer Prevention" provides
a overview of what we know about cancer risk and the preventive
measures that people can take. You can download the report
free of cost, from the internet, at the following address:
http://www.hsph.harvard/can prevent.
One of the most important conclusions to be drawn from this
report, is that cancer is indeed a preventable illness. Nearly
2/3 of cancer deaths are linked to tobacco use, diet, obesity,
and lack of exercise. These can be modified by changing the
lifestyle.
Avoiding or stopping tobacco use, is broadly known to lower
cancer risk, but beyond that, cancer is commonly viewed as
a mystery, whose cause eludes our intellectual grasp, and
therefore our ability to prevent it. New research showing
an association between cancer and diet, obesity exercise and
alcohol use are not well known.
Tobacco Use
With the barrage of new research findings constantly assaulting
the public, it is easy for this critical fact to get lost.
Stemming the epidemic of tobacco smoking, is our most effective
means for preventing cancer. Over the past decade, even involuntary
exposure of non-smokers from other people's tobacco products,
and environmental tobacco smoke also poses a health-risk for
non-smokers. The US Environmental Agency has designated tobacco
smoke as a Group A carcinogen, for which there is no safe
level of exposure.
Diet and Obesity
In scientific literature, the term obesity is defined as
the excess storage of energy in the body, in the form of fat.
People call it "being overweight," which implies
weighing more than a given standard level of height and weight.
The Harvard Centre for Cancer Prevention Report, clearly
outlines the link between being obese and cancer risk. Body
fat results from many factors like diet, hormonal balance,
genetic predisposition, physical exercise, basal metabolism,
race etc. Here are some key questions for assessing the risk
of cancer. Did the obesity start in childhood? Is the fat
located on the abdomen or hips and thighs? What is the person's
lean body fat? Is being overweight an indication of eating
too much of a certain type of food?
A landmark study was done by the American Cancer Society,
over a period of 13 years, on obese people, to study cancer
risk. The results were not good news for obese people (about
40% more than ideal weight) - they had a 33% increased risk
of getting cancer, cancer risk in men: (prostate and colon
cancer), and a 55% increased cancer risk - (gallbladder, breast,
cervix, endometrium, uterus, and ovarian cancer.) Women who
are post-menopausal, and are overweight, have nearly a 40%
increased risk of breast cancer, because obese women produce
less oestrogen binding hormones. Obese men are more likely
to get colon cancer, because they probably consume more fatty
food, eat more red meat and are less physically active.
Over the last several years, insulin has been implicated
in cancer. Overweight people tend to get Type II diabetes,
where the body's cells become less sensitive to insulin. People
who are 30-40% above ideal body weight, may produce more insulin,
in order to compensate for the body's insensitivity to this
hormone. So the body actually has more insulin floating around
in the blood stream! Insulin, and insulin like growth factors
(IGF's), are growth factors for cells in the colon and breast
tissue. Studies have shown that there is an increased risk
of cancer of these tissues.
Finally, body frame size has also a link for cancer risk.
Taller, larger framed people, appear to have a greater propensity
for cancer. (The Napoleon-like people of the world - short
and small framed - rejoice! For once you have an advantage
over those giants!)
Children who are obese are at greater risk of becoming obese
adults.
The relationship between obesity and cancer are not fully
understood. However, many studies indicate, that the likelihood
is greater among those who weigh more than 35% above their
ideal body weight. Obesity is also bad news, as it causes
a high risk of other diseases such as stroke, heart disease
and diabetes. In men, obesity is related to cancer of the
colon and prostate. In women the risk is increased for breast
cancer.
To prevent diseases such as cancer, maintain an ideal body
weight, measure you body fat regularly, eat foods in as natural
a state as possible, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Encourage
healthy eating and exercise habits in children, which will
help them maintain a healthy life-long body weight.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Higher levels of physical activity can reduce the incidence
of colorectal cancer, and may help reduce cancers of the breast
and prostate. Encourage healthy eating and exercise habits
in children, which will help them maintain a healthy life-long
body weight.
Alcohol
The use of alcoholic beverages,
interacts with tobacco smoking, in the causation of cancers
of the upper respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts. Moreover
alcohol alone is implicated in cirrhosis- mediated liver,
cancer and breast and bowel cancer as well. Women in particular
have to be cautious about alcohol consumption especially those
who have a family history of the disease.
Salt and other Food
Additives
Reduction in salt intake could reduce stomach cancer risk.
No other food additive has been exclusively to cancer.
Preventing cancer will not be easy but not impossible. Nearly
1/3 of all cancers can be prevented.
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