| Contrary to what most people may think, cancer | | | | cancer-causing infectious agents is now the focus |
| is not a disease due to bad genes or tough luck. | | | | of UICC. The "custodian" of the World Cancer |
| By leading a health-promoting lifestyle, cancer can | | | | Declaration, however, said that more needs to be |
| be prevented even if your genes predispose you | | | | done. |
| to this dreadful disease. In fact, "Cancer can be | | | | For example, more research needs to be |
| prevented too" is exactly the message which | | | | conducted to identify unknown virus and |
| International Union Against Cancer (UICC) tries to | | | | understand how they cause cancer in humans. |
| convey to the rest of the world. | | | | There is also a need to study how some virus like |
| In its message, the non-government organization | | | | Helicobacter pylori which has co-existed with |
| reiterated the importance of simple lifestyle | | | | humans for thousands of years turn cancerous in |
| changes and other control measures in cancer | | | | some people and not in others. Only by |
| prevention. Measures mentioned include eating a | | | | understanding how virus and bacteria develop into |
| healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a | | | | malignant tumor can we develop better diagnosis |
| healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, not | | | | and treatment, and take more targeted |
| smoking, avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight | | | | preventive measures. |
| and getting the appropriate vaccination. These | | | | There are also non-scientific hurdles that need to |
| changes, it said, can cut one's risk of cancer by | | | | be cleared when it comes to the battle against |
| up to 40%. | | | | cancer-inducing microorganisms. In the developing |
| Raising public's awareness on cancers caused by | | | | countries, poverty and the lack of quality public |
| infections is also one of the highlights in UICC's | | | | health care continue to contribute to the high |
| message. According to its report, about 21% of | | | | incidence rates of cancer related to infections. |
| the global cancer burden can be traced to viral | | | | "Policy-makers around the world have the |
| and bacterial infections. The WHO has also put | | | | opportunity and obligation to use these vaccines |
| cancer deaths attributable to infections at 22% in | | | | to save people's lives and educate their |
| the developing world and 6% in industrialized | | | | communities towards lifestyle choices and control |
| countries. | | | | measures that reduce their risk of cancer", said |
| Nine types of cancer-causing infections were | | | | Cary Adams, CEO of UICC. |
| highlighted in UICC's 56-page report, including | | | | Even in high-income populations where medical |
| hepatitis B and hepatitis C which are responsible | | | | technology is affordable to most people, low |
| for about 80% of liver cancer in the world. | | | | disease awareness and limitation in health |
| Other virus in the report include the human | | | | infrastructures also pose challenges to reducing |
| papillomavirus which is believed to cause cervical | | | | global cancer burden attributable to infections. A |
| cancer, the third most common cancer among | | | | good example is the huge gap between people |
| women worldwide. But, cancers caused by | | | | who have been vaccinated against hepatitis B |
| infections can largely be prevented. That is why | | | | worldwide and those who have not. |
| prevention, detection and treatment of | | | | |