Too much food, too much alcohol, snuff and too much sun.

Cases of skin cancer skyrocketed in the last decade.

These four are responsible for the excesses massive increase in certain types of cancer in recent years, according to British experts warns.

Researchers say that about half of all cancer cases could be prevented by changes in lifestyle.

According to data published by the UK Cancer Research UK, cases of melanoma, the type of skin cancer more dangerous in the last decade increased by 40%.

In most cases, the disease was linked to excessive sun exposure and neglect, according to researchers.

Oral cancer associated with snuff and alcohol consumption, grew between the British in almost 25% over the past ten years.

And cases of kidney cancer and uterus, both related to obesity, also rose during the same period.

“Prevention rather than cure”

“People still do not believe much in changing their habits,” he told BBC Science Diana Patricia Garcia, coordinator of a cancer prevention program at the Washington Hospital Centre, U.S..

In the United States and the United Kingdom the numerous campaigns against snuff, as well as legislation that prohibit smoking in many public places are already having visible results.

According to data published in the UK cases of lung cancer, especially among men, continue to decline due to a reduction in smoking.

However, according to Diana Patricia Garcia, “in Latin America the use of alcohol and smoking is still quite high because there are no prevention programs.”

Beauty vs. Health

Too much food, alcohol, snuff and sun exposure habits are not necessarily exclusive to the “modern” life more advanced societies.

Although, as is stated Diana Patricia Garcia, motivations they can be different.

“Many times in developed societies like the United States or Britain, people face the sun as a matter of beauty.”

“In our countries many women are exposed to the sun not so much for aesthetic as for work: because they have to spend many hours in the sun picking crops, caring for children in the open, not so much about beauty and survival.”

The cancer prevention coordinator stresses once again that what is needed is to provide information.

“People still do not understand what can be wrong and what can be good,” he told BBC Science.

“But in our countries there is no social structure or the structure of medical or enough money to reach many people. These campaigns are conducted on a massive scale not reach everyone really,” he said.

Annual Medical Examination
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER
Avoid smoking
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and fiber
Sun protection
Exercise regularly
Source: Cancer Research UK

“Sometimes the feel good is a passport to good health,” warned Diana Patricia Garcia.

In addition to daily exercise, changing diet and sun protection, the expert stressed the importance of regular medical surveillance.

“Although our countries there is no prevention as such, we must go to our doctors and ask for an annual checkup, although one does not have any symptoms, even if you feel well,” he advised.

“A good review is a good preventive health check for anything in the future” was his conclusion.

According to Cancer Research UK points out, early detection of the disease makes the treatment and increases the likelihood of cure.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 9th, 2010 at 7:55 am and is filed under Cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.