There are cases when cancer develops without knowing it. “Even if you pay attention to this… Even if I have heard the phrase “a lot,” I pass it by and regret it following being diagnosed with cancer. Can you get cancer without luck? There are many cancers that can be prevented by avoiding clear risk factors, so why do you get them?
◆ If you are not lucky, you will get cancer. Mutations in the body that cannot be controlled
It is argued that cancer is a cancer of bad luck caused by mutations in the body that cannot be controlled by humans. As the stem cells in the body proliferate and divide, the probability of mutations also increases, leading to cancer. It is argued that the number of stem cell divisions in the body during a lifetime is not determined by a person’s self, so luck plays a role. Pancreatic cancer, small intestine cancer, osteosarcoma, malignant brain tumor, leukemia, ovarian cancer, non-smoker lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, head and neck cancer, and skin melanoma are mentioned as cancers that fall under this category (International Journal of Science, ‘Science’).
◆ There are ways to prevent cancer… How to prevent cancer in your daily life
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of cancer cases are preventable, and one-third can be cured if diagnosed early. It is also believed that the remaining 1/3 of the patients can be alleviated with appropriate treatment. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO), 30% of cancer deaths are due to smoking, 30% to diet and 18% to chronic infection. In addition, factors such as occupation, genetics, drinking, hormones, radiation, and environmental pollution that work in a harmful environment account for 1-5% each. If you look closely at this, you can prevent cancer enough in your daily life.
◆ Cancer can be prevented by vaccination… Liver cancer, cervical cancer
Some people still know that alcohol causes liver cancer. The decisive cause is hepatitis virus (types B and C). About 75% of liver cancer patients in Korea have hepatitis B, and regarding 10% have hepatitis C virus. 85% of all liver cancers are related to hepatitis virus (National Cancer Information Center). Those who have not yet been vaccinated once morest the hepatitis B virus should be vaccinated. Of course, you have to be careful regarding drinking too much. Cervical cancer can also be prevented with the HPV vaccine.
◆ If detected late, the survival rate is low… It’s free, so why not?
Stomach cancer is closely related to eating habits such as salty, burnt, and nitrate intake and Helicobacter pylori infection. The occurrence of two or more gastric cancer patients in a family is related to the past eating habits of similar eating habits and eating one stew with each spoon. People over the age of 40 can have a free gastroscopy every two years. Gastric cancer can be prevented or detected early at no cost through national cancer screening, but there are many people who do not receive it for more than 10 years. If gastric cancer is detected late, the survival rate is low.
◆ Who is the ‘first priority’ in risk? “Don’t be fooled even if you know”
Most cancers have a family history of 5-10%. If there is a cancer patient in your immediate family, such as a parent, brother, or sister, you should be careful. The risk increases if the father has colorectal cancer and the son hates vegetables and fruits on a high-fat diet and neglects a stool test or colonoscopy.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Smoking increases the risk of several cancers, including lung, oral, esophageal, stomach, bladder, cervical, and breast cancer. Secondhand smoke should also be avoided. Even if you have a family history, your risk of cancer soars if you don’t eat carefully, exercise, and check-ups. Let’s practice cancer for which there is a clear ‘prevention method’. Don’t skip it because it bothers you. If you get cancer, it’s even harder, and your family suffers too. If detected late, very expensive treatments may be required.
Reporter Kim Yong-eok [email protected]
ⓒ ‘Honest knowledge for health’ Comedy.com (https://kormedi.com) / Unauthorized reproduction-redistribution prohibited
