Raise Awareness from your Desk!
November, Lung Cancer Awareness month. It’s that time of the year when lung cancer takes the front burner. It’s the month when we are all expected to do our bit in raising awareness on the deadly scourge.
So what exactly is lung cancer and what are the factors that increase the chances of you getting it? Like all cancer, it’s when there is abnormal growth of cells in the lungs.
Lung cancer according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report is the one of the most common cancers in developing countries with about 24.6 million people currently living with cancer worldwide. ” Scary stats, isn't it?
Perhaps lung cancer wouldn't have such a profound and tragic influence in the world today were it not for the tobacco connection. According to WHO, 43% of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco. Tobacco was responsible for 4.4 million new cases in 2002 till date. To cap it all, WHO has it that tobacco consumption is the world’s most avoidable cause of cancer, responsible for more than 80% lung cancer cases in men and 45% in women.
Risk factors of lung cancer are;
1. Smoking: The number of smokers is increasing particularly in the developing world. The rate of occurrence of lung cancer has been reported to have a striking parallel to the incidence of cigarette smoking in the nation. The risk is increased by early age of commencement of smoking and the duration of smoking. You may be shocked to learn that the cigarette smoke that is inhaled contains carcinogens (cancer- causing substances).
2. Physical inactivity, dietary factors, being overweight and obesity: Research has shown that poor diet, not being active, and obese increases the risk of several cancers. We need diets high in fruits and vegetables to help fight against many cancers. Thus, regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet will considerably reduce cancer risk.
3. Air Pollution: Air pollution is another risk factor. Even the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified outdoor air pollution as a carcinogen. According to Kurt Straif, PhD, head of the IARC Monographs Section, ‘’The air we breathe is filled with cancer-causing substances, outdoor air pollution is not only a major environmental risk to health in general, it is the most important environmental cancer killer due to the large number of people exposed.”
Enough about the risks, here are some practical tips to reduce the risk of getting this disease,
1. Quit smoking; if you have never smoked, don’t start! And if you are already smoking, quit now!
2. Avoid second-hand smoke; if you live or work with a smoker, urge him or her to quit. At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke-free options.
3. Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables; choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients are best.
4. Workout regularly: If you don't exercise regularly, start out slowly. Try to exercise most days of the week.
Let’s join hands in making our generation the last that smokes! Think of the people you know. How many of them have had cancer? How many more will get it?
We urge to you to tell your families, friends, loved ones, etc. to join the world in raising more awareness for this deadly diseases. Use your social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram etc., to educate your friends and family. All these are wonderful platforms that can be used to get messages across to the public.
By joining the world in raising more awareness, we can save over 2 million lives by 2020 and 6.5 million lives by 2040, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
Safe a life and raise more awareness this month!
Start NOW!!!
So what exactly is lung cancer and what are the factors that increase the chances of you getting it? Like all cancer, it’s when there is abnormal growth of cells in the lungs.
Lung cancer according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report is the one of the most common cancers in developing countries with about 24.6 million people currently living with cancer worldwide. ” Scary stats, isn't it?
Perhaps lung cancer wouldn't have such a profound and tragic influence in the world today were it not for the tobacco connection. According to WHO, 43% of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco. Tobacco was responsible for 4.4 million new cases in 2002 till date. To cap it all, WHO has it that tobacco consumption is the world’s most avoidable cause of cancer, responsible for more than 80% lung cancer cases in men and 45% in women.
Risk factors of lung cancer are;
1. Smoking: The number of smokers is increasing particularly in the developing world. The rate of occurrence of lung cancer has been reported to have a striking parallel to the incidence of cigarette smoking in the nation. The risk is increased by early age of commencement of smoking and the duration of smoking. You may be shocked to learn that the cigarette smoke that is inhaled contains carcinogens (cancer- causing substances).
2. Physical inactivity, dietary factors, being overweight and obesity: Research has shown that poor diet, not being active, and obese increases the risk of several cancers. We need diets high in fruits and vegetables to help fight against many cancers. Thus, regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet will considerably reduce cancer risk.
3. Air Pollution: Air pollution is another risk factor. Even the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified outdoor air pollution as a carcinogen. According to Kurt Straif, PhD, head of the IARC Monographs Section, ‘’The air we breathe is filled with cancer-causing substances, outdoor air pollution is not only a major environmental risk to health in general, it is the most important environmental cancer killer due to the large number of people exposed.”
Enough about the risks, here are some practical tips to reduce the risk of getting this disease,
1. Quit smoking; if you have never smoked, don’t start! And if you are already smoking, quit now!
2. Avoid second-hand smoke; if you live or work with a smoker, urge him or her to quit. At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke-free options.
3. Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables; choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients are best.
4. Workout regularly: If you don't exercise regularly, start out slowly. Try to exercise most days of the week.
Let’s join hands in making our generation the last that smokes! Think of the people you know. How many of them have had cancer? How many more will get it?
We urge to you to tell your families, friends, loved ones, etc. to join the world in raising more awareness for this deadly diseases. Use your social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram etc., to educate your friends and family. All these are wonderful platforms that can be used to get messages across to the public.
By joining the world in raising more awareness, we can save over 2 million lives by 2020 and 6.5 million lives by 2040, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
Safe a life and raise more awareness this month!
Start NOW!!!
