Introduction

Cancer is a problem of immense magnitude, as it is predicted that it will affect one in every three men and one in every four women throughout their life.

Although the number of patients who become cured and global survival rates are increasingly consistent and significant, it is no less uncertain that the total number of cases and incidences of tumours is slowly increasing. Regarding this fact, due in part to population ageing (the frequency of cancer increases with age), we should not forget other causes, such as a greater explosion of risk factors – which would also explain the increased real number of cases reported.

In terms of the emergence of new cases, the most common tumours that we find in our midst are prostrate, lung, colon and bladder cancers. As far as women are concerned, breast cancer is by a considerable margin the most recurring form, followed by colo-rectal digestive and gynaecological tumours.

Onkologikoa building

In global terms (taking both sexes into account), colo-rectal cancer is the most common cancer and the most common age-group is between 65-75 years, in which the greatest number of cases of all types of cancer is noted.  

In reality, we group together a broad set of illnesses under the term cancer – over two hundred - which will be developed as a consequence of an indeterminate number of cellular genetic mutations or alterations.

The possible causes of these cellular genetic alterations are attributed in only a small percentage of cases to some type of genetic or hereditary predisposition, to the extent that external agents are the causes of these alterations in the human organism in 75-80% of cancers.  

These external agents – or risk factors or carcinogenous agents – may be partly modified by people’s behaviour, both on an individual and a group level. Thus, our attitude and the decisions we take regarding toxic or harmful habits and social or leisure-related customs, regarding working conditions, industrial or environmental activities, etc., may be determinants in a greater or lesser number of cases of tumours.

These and other determining factors, which may not still be well-known, would seem to explain the long period of time required on occasions for tumours to manifest themselves clinically, or why the risk of being affected by such tumours increases over the years.

 Primary Prevention - favouring a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risk factors as far as possible - and Secondary Prevention - via early diagnosis examinations and due attention paid to warning symptoms – will be the weapons at our disposal for maintaining our good health and preventing some types of cancer.

Below are some recommendations for preventive purposes:

  • 1 Don’t smoke.
  • 1 Limit alcohol consumption.
  • 1 Eat fruit, vegetables and cereals.
  • 1 Avoid obesity.
  • 1 Do physical exercise.
  • 1 Be careful with the sun.
  • 1 Avoid cancerigenous substances.
  • 1 Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
  • 1 Recommend early detection of:
    • 1 Cervical cancer (women over 25 years of age)
    • 1 Breast cancer (women over 40-50 years of age)
    • 1 Colo-rectal cancer (men and women over 50 years of age).

WARNING SYMPTOMS: CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR

  • If you notice any lump, a wound that fails to scar (including those in the mouth), a mole that changes shape, size or colour, or any abnormal loss of blood.
     
  • In cases of persistent discomfort such as permanent coughing or hoarseness, intestinal or urinary alterations, or abnormal weight loss.   

The new Onkologikoa Oncology Clinic –a pioneering monographic centre in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but one which is also historically involved in its prevention - is updating the range of services it offers in health and its resources aimed at the early diagnosis of cancer to all men and women who may consider it to be of interest to them.