Need control on alcohol, diet to curb cancer: Doctors

Health

Two-thirds of the cancer cases in India can be prevented either by making effective policies or better implementation of the existing ones, say experts. What's more, a grip on alcohol consumption and obesity can help prevent a large percentage of cancer.

According to the World Economic Forum, cancer is among one of the three greatest risks to the global economy. This may be due to escalating cost of care, the threat to productivity from death and disability, and the effects of costs on household impoverishment. But this year's theme of World Cancer Day: "Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer" can help change the situation, say experts.

Last year, representatives from 117 countries converged at the United Nations to address the prevention and control of cancer and non-communicable diseases and declared four key strategies: control tobacco, unsafe use of alcohol, obesity and encourage better nutrition. While improving the nutritional status of a 100-crore population nation is an uphill task, control on tobacco, areca nut, alcohol and junk food is well within the reach of policymakers, say experts. "There is awareness about the cancer-causing properties of tobacco, but most people are still unaware of the harmful effects of alcohol, areca nut and obesity," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, oncosurgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital.

"Alcohol is causally related to cancers of the mouth, oropharynx, liver, oesophagus and breast. The risk becomes much higher when tobacco is consumed along with alcohol," he said.

Another cause of worry for oncologists is obesity. A study, using National Cancer Institute surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data, estimated that in 2007 in the US, about 34,000 new cases of cancer in men (4%) and 50,500 in women (7%) were due to obesity. This analysis also found that if every adult reduced their Body Mass Index by 1%, which would be equivalent to a weight loss of roughly 1kg for an adult of average weight, this would actually result in the avoidance of about one lakh new cases.

Head of Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr Rajan Badwe said an unhealthy diet is one of the major contributors in cancer among the obese. "Adolescent obesity is known to produce diabetes, hypertension and cancers like those of breast, ovary and uterus among women and stomach, kidney and colon among men in the later years," Dr Badwe said.Worrying numbers

* There are about 30 lakh new cases of cancer in India at any particular point of time

* About 5 lakh deaths a year in the country are due to cancer.

* 40% of cancer cases are due to the use of tobacco

* The leading sites of cancer are the oral cavity, lungs, oesophagus and stomach among men and cervix, breast and oral cavity among women. Cancer accounts for more deaths worldwide than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

* As per the World Health Organisation Report 2005, the estimated number of cancer deaths in India will increase to 7 lakh by 2015