‘Lifestyle changes required’

People in developing countries at greater risk because of lesser access to treatment options .

HYDERABAD:

While 8.5 million people die of cancer across the world, most of these cases are concentrated in developing countries, said Nuclear Institute of Medicines and Radiotherapy Director (NIMRA), Jamshoro, Dr Naeem Leghari.

There is a clear disparity between low and high income countries because people in poor or developing countries don’t have access to prevention programmes and treatments.

For instance, 80 per cent of global cervical cancer deaths are reported in developing countries. Even if the technology is available, people simply do not know about the disease, its symptoms, risks and prevention or cure options.

“This can be gauged by the vast differences in the coverage of hepatitis B vaccination programmes worldwide,” said Dr Leghari.  Rapid industrialisation is not just ruining the ecosystem, it is also affecting our lifestyle, which is becoming more conducive to cancer, he said.

“We are exercising less and eating more fast food. The increased use of gutka, mainpuri, paan and tobacco in Pakistan are behind the rising incidence of cancer in the country,” he maintained, referring to statistics and studies carried out by the World Health Organisation.

Treatment breakthroughs

Recent breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer include forms of vaccines such as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against the HPV - a virus that could cause cervical cancer, the third highest cause of death by cancer among women, Dr Leghari said. The vaccine also protects against the hepatitis B virus, which could lead to liver cancer.

In addition to routine clinical work, NIMRA is also engaged in research, teaching and training programmes. Academic facilities are being provided to foreign and national MSc and MPhil students of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, he added.

The doctor said that cancer, caused by viral or bacterial infections, could be prevented through vaccinations and adopting lifestyle changes such as exercising more and eating healthy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd,  2011.