| Throughout the world, cancer remains a leading | | | | infection may be responsible for the high incidence |
| cause of death. All told, more than six million | | | | of liver cancer in the Asian nation. And stomach |
| people around the globe die of the disease each | | | | cancer may be exacerbated by the Chinese diet |
| year. Cancer has become a particular concern in | | | | of high-salt fermented food and unsanitary food |
| China, where the mortality rate from the disease | | | | storage procedures. |
| has been on the rise. In fact, some 1.5 million | | | | Examining Oesophageal Cancer In-Depth |
| people in China died of cancer in the year 2000. | | | | Because of the prevalence of cancer of the |
| For Chinese men, the most common form of | | | | oesophagus in China, it only makes sense that |
| cancer is cancer of the stomach, followed by liver | | | | researchers would take a closer look at ways the |
| cancer, cancer of the oesophagus, lung cancer, | | | | Chinese might be able to cut their risk for this |
| and intestinal cancers. Stomach cancer is also | | | | form of cancer. |
| most common for women, followed by uterine, | | | | A research team at the Harbin Medical College in |
| oesophagus, lung, and liver cancer. | | | | China decided to zero in on the factors leading to |
| An Increase in Western Cancers | | | | oesophageal cancer in northeast China. In an |
| Because of the increase in economic development | | | | article entitled, "Risk Factors for Oesophageal |
| in China, it appears that the nation is witnessing an | | | | Cancer in Northeast China," J. Hu and his research |
| increase in cancers most common in the West. | | | | team document a hospital-based study of |
| As a result, the incidence of breast, prostate, and | | | | oesophageal cancer in the Heilongjiang Province. |
| colorectal cancers in China is expected to rise | | | | It should be pointed out that this province is |
| exponentially. This stands to reason, given the | | | | actually a low-risk area for this form of cancer. |
| fact that such cancers have increased a great | | | | However, from May of 1985 to May of 1989, |
| deal in Taiwan and Hong Kong as those nations | | | | dozens of cancer patients were interviewed in the |
| have modernized. | | | | wards of several major hospitals for the purpose |
| In an effort to stem the cancer tide, the Chinese | | | | of the study. |
| Anti-Cancer Association is screening a million | | | | Serious Risk Factors |
| Chinese women over six years. The project is | | | | The research team gathered evidence relating to |
| designed to help save lives through early | | | | diet, socio-economic status, incidence of smoking, |
| detection. | | | | and alcohol use. Not surprisingly, the researchers |
| Geographical Considerations | | | | found that smoking and alcohol consumption |
| Cancers in China also appear to vary by | | | | appeared to be significant risk factors for cancer |
| geography. For the most part, cancer is most | | | | of the oesophagus. Those people who had |
| prevalent in East China, North China, and | | | | smoked handmade cigarettes were at the |
| Northwest China. Cancer is decidedly less common | | | | greatest risk. |
| in South China, Southwest China, and Northeast | | | | Reducing the Risk |
| China. It has been said that the highest cancer | | | | The Chinese researchers found that there were |
| mortality rate occurs in the city of Shanghia and | | | | demonstrated ways that people could reduce |
| in the provinces of Jaingsu, Fujian, and Zhejiang. | | | | their risk of developing oesophageal cancer. For |
| For cancer of the oesophagus in particular, the | | | | instance, eating a greater amount of fruits and |
| worst mortality rate occurs in North China, | | | | vegetables lowered oesophageal cancer risk by 35 |
| specifically the Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi provinces. | | | | percent. By the same token, upping vitamin C |
| It appears that, in the outer reaches of these | | | | intake by 100 mg reduced the risk of cancer of |
| provinces, the mortality rate is less severe than in | | | | the oesophagus by 39 percent. |
| the inner reaches. There is some indication that | | | | The researchers also found that using salt did not |
| oesophagus cancer may be linked to nitrites, | | | | seem to increase the risk for oesophageal cancer. |
| although the evidence is not conclusive. | | | | Likewise, foods preserved in salt and pickled |
| The Tobacco Factor | | | | vegetables offered no heightened risk. |
| Because of widespread tobacco use in China, | | | | Combating Cancer Over the Long Term |
| cases of lung cancer in the nation are expected | | | | Treating cancer of the oesophagus and other |
| to increase significantly. Currently, China is home | | | | cancers is a particular challenge in China and the |
| to some 320 million smokers--in fact, it's | | | | rest of the developing world. That's because the |
| considered to be the smoking capital of the world. | | | | cancers tend to be discovered late when the |
| By the year 2025, as many as two million Chinese | | | | chances of successful treatment are much lower. |
| residents may die of lung cancer and other | | | | Treatment may also be difficult because the |
| tobacco-related diseases each year. | | | | nation's pain medications tend to be less effective |
| Other Risk Factors | | | | than those found in the West. As a result, groups |
| There are additional environmental factors which | | | | such as the American Cancer Society are working |
| may contribute to the increase in cancer in China. | | | | to improve the quality of life for Chinese cancer |
| For instance, an upsurge in the Hepatitis B | | | | patients, particularly in the area of pain medication. |