In many respects, cancer is a preventable disease. Estimates indicate that approximately one half of all cancer cases either arise from modifiable risk factors or can be detected as precursor lesions before the development of disease with metastatic potential
Prevention of cancer can take place on several different levels: primary prevention addresses the cause of cancer so disease does not occur, secondary prevention identifies disease before the onset of symptoms and keeps it from becoming more extensive, and tertiary prevention reduces complications and progression of disease once it has become clinically apparent.
Although cancer has overtaken cardiovascular disease to become the leading cause of death among men and women younger than 85 years in the INDIA, and the number of cancer deaths continues to increase with the aging and growth of the population, age-standardized INDIAN death rates from cancer have been decreasing.
From 2001 to 2006, cancer mortality decreased over 1.5% per year. Overall cancer incidence has also decreased, by an average of 0.7% per year from 1999 to 2006.
RISK ASSESMENT
Assessment of an individual's risk is a key step in cancer prevention; risk assessment programs have been developed at many cancer centers to identify people who are at high risk. Review of personal and family medical history, work history, and lifestyle can help identify cancer risk factors, which may be modifiable (eg, tobacco use, sun exposure) or non modifiable (eg, family history of cancer, sex, ethnicity, race, advancing age, hormone levels). Combinations of modifiable and non modifiable risk factors place some people at particularly high risk for cancer.
Screening and Early Detection
Breast Cancer Screening
Screening for breast cancer can include different tests, of which clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography are commonly used.
Cervical Cancer Screening
The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is the standard screening test for cervical cancer. HPV is the etiologic agent for most cervical cancers.
Pap smears
This test consists of sampling and examination of the cells at the transformation zone at the junction between the endocervix and ectocervix, which is the site of cervical dysplasia and cancers.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Modifiable risk factors for cancer include tobacco use, sun exposure, diet, exercise, obesity, alcohol use, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), environmental/occupational exposures, infectious exposures, and sexual activity.
Tobacco use
Sun exposure
Diet
Exercise
Obesity
Alcohol use
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Hormone Replacement Therapy
Considerable epidemiologic evidence suggests that the duration of a woman's exposure to endogenous estrogen affects breast cancer risk. Support for this hypothesis includes the increased risk of breast cancer for women with an earlier age of menarche, later age of menopause, nulliparity, and later age at first live birth, as well as higher serum estrogen concentrations. For women who take estrogen-¬only hormone replacement therapy, meta-analyses of epidemiologic studies indicate a mildly increased risk of breast cancer for more visithttp://globalvisionngo.org
Environmental and Occupational Exposures
Geographic patterns of cancer incidence may provide insight into cancer etiology. Possible risk factors include environmental exposures and occupational exposures from the air or water.
Workplace exposure to chemicals such as coal-tar–based products, benzene, cadmium, uranium, asbestos, or nickel can significantly increase cancer risk.
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