It is usually not possible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another does not. But research has shown that certain risk factors may increase a person's chances of developing cancer. In many cases, cancer is something that develops because of certain lifestyle choices. Of course, smoking or excessively sunning yourself can lead to cancer. So can exposure to certain toxins and just in general an unhealthy lifestyle. However, there are steps you can take to help prevent cancer. This doesn't mean you won't ever get some form of cancer as sometimes you are just predisposed to cancer, but, it means that you are doing all you can to stay healthy.
The common risk factors for cancer that can be prevented can be referred to as Modifiable Risk Factors such as tobacco, sun exposure, radiation exposure, chemicals, and other substances. Whereas there are other causes of cancer that is not preventable (referred to as Non-Modifiable Risk Factors) such as family history or aging.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Obesity: “More than 1.9 billion adults, aged 18 and above are overweight, with 650 million being obese.” (source: World Health Organisation). People who are obese may have an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast cancer (in women who have been through menopause), colon, rectum, endometrium (lining of the uterus), esophagus, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Physical inactivity: “Approximately 3.2 million deaths occur each year due to insufficient physical activity.” (source: World Health Organisation).
Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption: “In 2016, more than 3 million deaths are due to harmful use of alcohol, accounting for 1 in every 20 deaths.” (source: World Health Organisation). Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, and breast. The more you drink, the higher your risk. The risk of cancer is much higher for those who drink alcohol and also use tobacco.
Long term smoking: “Tobacco kills more than 7 million people worldwide, where over 12.7% of those deaths are among non-smokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke.” (source: World Health Organisation). People who use tobacco products or who are regularly around environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke) have an increased risk of cancer because tobacco products and secondhand smoke have many chemicals that damage DNA. Smoking and Tobacco use causes many types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach.
High consumption of processed meat: “Processed meat has been classified as Group 1, carcinogens to human due to sufficient evidence that the agent causes cancer.” (source: World Health Organisation)
Very low intake of whole-grain fiber, fruit, and vegetables: “Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables could potentially save 2.7 million lives worldwide every year.” (source: World Health Organisation)
Exposure to radiation, including ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Radiation of certain wavelengths, called ionizing radiation, has enough energy to damage DNA and cause cancer. Ionizing radiation includes radon, x-rays, gamma rays, and other forms of high-energy radiation. The sun, sunlamps, and tanning booths all give off ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Exposure to UV radiation causes early aging of the skin and skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Chronic Inflammation: May be caused by infections that does not go away, abnormal immune reactions to normal tissues, or conditions such as obesity. In chronic inflammation, the inflammatory process may begin even if there is no injury, and it does not end when it should. Over time, chronic inflammation can lead to changes in the affected cells and in nearby immune cells, can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer.
Infections with some viruses, bacteria, and other germs: Some viruses directly affect the genes inside cells that control their growth. These viruses can insert their own genes into the cell, causing the cell to grow out of control. Other common virus are the Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C virus (HBV and HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virus. Long-term infection of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) can cause ulcers, as it can damage the inner layer of the stomach. H pylori infection is also linked with some types of lymphoma of the stomach. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infection caused nearly all cervical cancers.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Age: Advancing age is the most important risk factor for cancer overall, and for many individual cancer types. One-quarter of new cancer cases are diagnosed in people aged 65 to 74. A similar pattern is seen for many common cancer types. For example, the median age at diagnosis is 61 years for breast cancer, 68 years for colorectal cancer, 70 years for lung cancer, and 66 years for prostate cancer.
Personal or family history of colorectal cancer and/or polyps: “About 1 in 4 colorectal cancer patients have a family history of colorectal cancer, suggesting that it could be due to genetic and/or hereditary factor” (Colorectal Cancer Alliance)
Personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease: “Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease are said to have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and extra-intestinal malignancies as a result of chronic intestinal inflammation” (Axelrad et al., 2016)
Certain inherited genetic conditions: “Genetic specialists estimate that between 3-10% of a 100 cancer cases are due to inherited faulty genes” (Cancer Research UK)
Common Signs of Cancer: Symptoms You Can't Ignore
Women are usually more diligent than men when it comes to their own health care. But many women ignore symptoms that may be indicative of cancer. If a new health problem arises, do get it checked out soonest possible as the sooner a problem is explained the sooner treatment can be begun. Many forms of cancer can be cured if they are found early.
Unexplained Weight Loss - could be a symptom of a cancer. Cancer cells often use much of the body's energy supply, which can lead to this weight loss.
Extreme Tiredness(Fatigue) - may be because cancer cells use up much of the body’s energy supply. Or the cancer could release substances that change the way the body makes energy. It could also be a sign of some cancers such as leukemia or some colon or stomach cancers.
Unusual Bleeding - Blood in stool may be something benign such as a hemorrhoid, or it may be a sign of colon cancer. Blood in the urine may be mistaken for menstrual blood (for women), but it could be bladder or kidney cancer. Coughing up blood could be symptom of esophagus or lung cancer. An early sign and symptom of endometrial cancer is often spotting between periods. Blood in urine or semen may be a warning sign of prostate cancer for men.
Persistent Cough - If you have a prolonged cough lasting more than three to four weeks, coupled with shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing and/or hoarseness but you do not have a cold, allergies, the flu, and, consult your doctor, especially if you smoke. Also take notice if there are any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue as they may be signs of a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can lead to oral cancer.
Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression - When depression is coupled with abdominal pain, it may be a symptom of pancreatic cancer.
Bloating - Signs of ovarian cancer include bloating and other digestive issues, abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly even if you have not eaten much, and urinary urgency.
Loss of bladder control or increased frequency of urination – may be a warning sign for prostate cancer in men.
Unexplained Indigestion - may be a cause of concern as it may be an early sign of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Difficulty Swallowing - may be a symptom of a gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, such as esophageal cancer.
Fever and Changes in Lymph Nodes – Fever may be an early sign of some blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas. Fever may also occur when a cancer has spread (metastasized) from the original site to other parts of the body. Enlarged lymph nodes or lumps on your lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck may be a sign of possible cancer. If the lump is increasing in size and has been present for over a month, see a doctor. It may be due to an infection, but it could be a sign of something else such as cancer.
Pain in the bones of the lower back, hips, and/or ribs - Unexplained pain, especially one that persists and has no known cause may be a sign of cancer.
Breast Changes - Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include redness and thickening of the skin on the breast. A new lump that does not go away for about a month, but instead is slowly enlarging needs to be checked out right away. Other breast changes might include a rash that persists for weeks, changes in the nipple, or discharge when you are not breastfeeding.
Skin Changes - Moles that are changing, irregular in shape or color, or asymmetrical are common signs of skin cancer. But other skin changes can be signs too, including changes in skin pigmentation, bleeding, or excessive scaling.
How You Can Prevent Cancer from Happening to You
If you do have a family history of cancer, then you probably don't want to do things which raise your chances even higher of getting cancer. Here's what you can do to hopefully prevent it.
Reduce your sugar intake. It has been proven that cancer develops in an environment that is rich in glucose. Less oxygen and more sugar increases your risk of getting cancer.
Don't use tobacco products. This goes for smoking or chewing. Tobacco products are linked to many different types of Cancer including lung, bladder, cervix, kidney, oral cavity, and pancreas. Avoid tobacco products at all costs and you'll decrease your risks of developing cancer greatly.
Exercise regularly. It doesn't really matter what kind of exercise - just keep moving. Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy die will help in reducing obesity. Getting involved in more physical workouts and making it a point to walk or run for at least 30 minutes every day.
Eating a Healthy Diet - By making it a point to reduce the consumption of processed food and red meat and to always maintain a balanced diet. Be sure to include plenty of anti-inflammatory foods and those rich in antioxidants in your diet. A balanced diet of natural nutrients, vitamins and mineral supplements will help maintain a healthy body chemistry.
Watch the consumption of alcohol as much as you can whether by setting a budget when you go out and drinking more water at social events to reduce the thirst for alcohol.
Drop Those Extra Pounds - Obesity, specified as having a BMI (body mass index) of thirty or higher, increases the chance of developing colorectal cancer. Bringing down your weight-to-height ratio brings down your BMI, which diminishes your risk of acquiring cancer of the colon or rectum. You can't alter your height, so the only affair left is your weight.
Get enough sleep. Your body needs that time or rest to rejuvenate cells, so make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep. A recent written report shows that acquiring at least 7 hours of sleep every night may maximize cancer prevention advantages in physically active adult females.
Protect yourself in the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Reapply frequently. Cover yourself with clothing. Wear dark colors. Wear a hat. Avoid midday sun. Stay in the shade. Avoid tanning beds and lights.
Stay up to date on your immunizations. Protecting yourself from certain types of viruses will limit your chances of getting some cancers. Hepatitis B and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) are two vaccines you should be sure you have.
Maintain a proper pH (potential Hydrogen) in your body. A balanced pH level is more oxygen rich and an environment which cancers do not do well in. To do this, drink a lot of water, eliminate soda, reduce the amount of meat you eat, minimize your consumption of sweets, and eat a lot of raw vegetables.
Avoid risky behavior which can lead to infections. This means practice safe sex and don't share needles. HIV or AIDS increases a person's chance of getting cancer of the anus, liver, or lungs. HPV like mentioned above is associated with cervical cancer. This is a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing needles increases your chances of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
These ten things are just some ways you can take cancer into your own hands and reduce your risk of getting it. Of course, be pro-active and stay on top of your medical care. Seeing your doctor regularly and screening for cancers will help you diagnose a problem early, possibly preventing it from turning into cancer.
Cancer is a disease that touches on a lot of individuals. Many cancer-causing agents have been discovered by researchers. Most forms of cancer can be prevented by making a few primary life-style alterations, such as exercising and eating healthy, averting sun exposure and refraining from tobacco use.
Preventing cancer, the leading killer worldwide, isn't as easy as popping a pill or getting a vaccination. All the same, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than thirty percent of all cancer deaths can be prevented. Tobacco use is the single biggest factor when determining cancer risk. You are able to incorporate all these strategies in your fight against cancer or to prevent it and help prolong your life. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but you will feel much better if you follow these tips.
Anti‑inflammatory and antitumor action of hydrogen via reactive oxygen species (Review) ~ Ye Yang, Yaping Zhu And Xiaowei Xi; ONCOLOGY LETTERS 16. 2018. DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.9023
Therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen in ovarian cancer~ Lei Shang, Fei Xie, Tyler W. Lebaron et.al. TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH 2018;7(4):988-995. DOI:10.21037/tcr.2018.07.09
Protective effect of hydrogen‑rich water on liver function of colorectal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy ~ Qingxi Yang, Guangdong Ji, Rongtao Pan et.al. MOLECULAR AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY 7: 891-896, 2017. DOI: 10.3892/mco.2017.1409
National Cancer Burden
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in 2012, globally there were 14.1 million new cases and more than 8.2 million deaths in the same year. According to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), by 2030, the global cancer burden is expected to grow to 21.7 million new cancer cases and 13 million cancer deaths. The expected rise is mainly due to the increase in elderly population and adoption of unhealthy lifestyles.
Between 2007-2011, 103,570 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Malaysia and a total of 64,275 medically certified and non-medically certified cancer deaths were reported by the National Cancer Registry during the same period. One in four Malaysians face a lifetime risk of getting cancer. Every 12 minutes, a person is diagnosed with cancer in Peninsular Malaysia (extract from InfoMed Oct 2013).
Like most developed and advanced developing countries, Malaysia is experiencing an epidemiological transition, where diseases related to lifestyle particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancers have progressively become more prevalent.
Cancer represents a tremendous burden on patients, families and societies. Besides the financial cost of disease, cancer has important psychosocial repercussions for patients and their families and remains, in many parts of the world, a stigmatizing disease. Cancer is a complex group of diseases representing more than 100 distinct diseases with different causes and requiring different treatments or interventions. There is no single cause or cure for cancer and everyone is at risk.
The trend of malignant neoplasm in terms of absolute numbers has escalated and remains as one of the five principal causes of national mortality for the past 20 years. In 2015, cancer contributed 13.6 % of all deaths in Ministry of Health hospitals compared with 8.9% in 1996.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is the umbrella name given to hundreds of diseases and disorders. Though talked about as lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancers are many more, the disease does not really affect the organ but affects the cell of the organ. The name of the cancer comes from the organ affected. Each organ produces a specific kind of cell. For example, with the colon (a major organ in your intestine), is made up of cells and when those cells become cancerous, colon cancer is diagnosed.
The cells will become cancerous if they begin to divide without controller function. This will cause damage to other cells as the dividing cells vie for space and dominancy. The normal function of the cells is to divide to replace old cells. When the cancerous cells divide without control, the other cells have little chance competing with them. The uncontrolled dividing cells take up more and more space until they become a mass of cells and become tumor or growth. Once large enough, the tumor can cause discomfort or even pain. The tumor, if not removed, will grow big enough so that you can actually see or feel the affected area. In short, cancer development is caused by the continuous and unregulated proliferation of cells. Instead of responding appropriately to the signals that regulate normal cell behaviour, these cancer cells grow and divide out of control and invades normal tissues and organs, eventually spreading throughout the body.
There are two different kinds of tumors. The first type of tumor is the benign and is not life threatening. It usually does not spread. They are akin to a wart or growth you might see on your skin. A doctor may choose to remove the benign tumor are just to leave it because to disturb the tumor might cause the cancer to become malignant. When the tumor cells do become malignant, the tumor now is cancerous.
These cancerous cells can spread throughout the body and invade each cell, tissue, or organ. If the cancer is spread too much, it can even enter the blood stream and cause blood cancer. This is the most
serious type of cancer because the cancer cells now are incorporated to all parts of your body. As the cancer spreads throughout your body, the new cancer cells will invade healthy cells and cause them to become cancerous. A simple tumor can spread cancerous cells into all the organ systems of the body and eventually one will succumb and die.
There are more than 200 types of cancer, and each warrants more research to find a cure. Hence, we shall focus on cancers common in our part of the world, on Asian genetics. Here are the top 5 cancers in Year 2020, afflicting Male and Female Malaysians as per the latest report by Global Cancer Observatory(published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO) published in March 2021.
Source: The Global Cancer Observatory – International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO). March 2021
Most Common Types of Cancer Found in Men
Cancer affects men and women, but there are some cancers which affect men more than women. Also, many times these cancers are more deadly in men than they are in women. Here are the Top 5 Cancers that are most prevalent in Men in Malaysia:
Lung Cancer – Lung cancers typically start in the cells lining the bronchi and parts of the lung such as the bronchioles or alveoli and can affect any part of the respiratory system. Lung cancer often spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body, such as the brain and the bones. Once lung cancer has spread beyond the lungs, it is generally not curable. The number of new cases in 2020 are 17.0% (3,925).
ColorectalCancer - This is the third most common cancer found in men globally. Most often found in people age fifty and older. It is also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, and it is any cancer that affects the colon and rectum. The number of new cases in 2020 are 15.4% (3,540).
Prostate Cancer - This is the most common cancer diagnosed in men globally. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that surrounds the urethra just below the bladder. Most prostate cancers are slow growing. Cancerous cells may spread to other areas of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. The incidence trend increased at the age of 55 years and mostly diagnosed after the age of 65 years old. The number of new cases in 2020 are 9.3% (3,540).
Nasopharyngeal Cancer – a type of head and neck cancer. It starts in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose and near the base of the skull. It is 40 times more likely to affect Asians than Caucasians. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common form of cancer in the nasopharynx. Adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma are cancers that can start in the minor salivary glands in the nasopharynx. But these cancers are more commonly found in the nose (nasal cavity) or mouth (oral cavity). The number of new cases in 2020 are 7.4% (1,703).
Liver Cancer - arises from the endometrium (the lining of the uterus or womb). It is the result of the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. The first sign is most often vaginal bleeding not associated with a menstrual period. The number of new cases in 2020 are 6.7% (1,553).
Most Common Types of Cancer Found in Women
The cancers that only women get are gynecological cancers of the reproductive organs. Here are the Top 5 Cancers that are most prevalent in Women in Malaysia:
Breast Cancer - the most common cancer in women in almost every country, In 2018, 2 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The number of Asian women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the next 30 years will nearly double that of everyone else. The incidence was highest among Chinese followed by Indian and Malay. Most of the cases were presented at the age of 45-69 years and reduced after the age of 70 years. The number of new cases in 2020 are 32.9% (8,418).
ColorectalCancer - also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is any cancer that affects the colon and rectum. The number of new cases in 2020 are 11.9% (3,057).
Ovarian Cancer - is less common than breast or cervical cancer, but it is more lethal as there is no screening for early detection available yet. Occurs when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply out of control and form a tumor. If left untreated, the tumor can spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic ovarian cancer. The number of new cases in 2020 are 7.2% (1,836).
Cervical Cancer – begins and occurs in the cells of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. The number of new cases in 2020 are 6.8% (1,740).
Endometrial Cancer - arises from the endometrium (the lining of the uterus or womb). It is the result of the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. The first sign is most often vaginal bleeding not associated with a menstrual period. The number of new cases in 2020 are 5.5% (1,401).
What is Cancer Staging and the Importance of Cancer Staging?
Cancer staging: It is a way to describe the size of a cancer and how far it has grown and spread throughout the body. It is important as it is to determine the best treatment to treat the patient.
Stage 1: the cancer is relatively small and contained within the organ it started in.
Stage 2: usually means that the tumour is larger than in stage 1, but the cancer has not started to spread into the surrounding tissues. Sometimes stage 2 means that cancer cells have spread into lymph nodes close to the tumour. This depends on the particular type of cancer.
Stage 3: usually means the cancer is larger. It may have started to spread into surrounding tissues and there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the area.
Stage 4: means the cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ. This also called secondary or metastatic cancer.
We shall learn more on the Risk factors, common signs and symptoms, of cancer in the next blog.
Hydrogen: A Novel Option in Human Disease Treatment ~ Mengling Yang, Yinmiao Dong, Qingnan He et.al. PHARMACEUTICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MODULATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS 2020 www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2020/8384742/. doi.org/10.1155/2020/8384742
Hydrogen Gas in Cancer Treatment ~ Sai Li, Rongrong Liao, Xiaoyan Sheng et.al. FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY - CANCER MOLECULAR TARGETS AND THERAPEUTICS. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00696
“Real world survey” of hydrogen-controlled cancer: a follow-up report of 82 advanced cancer patients~ Ji-Bing Chen, Xiao-Feng Kong, You-Yong et.al. MEDICAL GAS RESEARCH. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.266985
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