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Cancer has hit more people in their 30s and 40s; understand

This Saturday (4) is the world cancer day and the prospects for winning the war against this deadly disease are both good and bad.

In the United States, cancer deaths have dropped by 33% since 1991, with an estimated 3.8 million lives saved, primarily due to advances in early detection and treatment. Still, 10 million people around the world lost their lives to cancer in 2020.

“Over the past three years, the #1 leading cause of death in the world has actually been cancer, not Covid-19,” said Arif Kamal, director of the American Cancer Society.

Cancer symptoms can be similar to those of many other illnesses, so it can be difficult to tell them apart, experts say. Signs include unexplained weight loss or gain, swelling or lumps in the groin, neck, stomach area or armpits, and fever and night sweats, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Neurological, bladder, bowel and skin problems can be signs of cancer, as can changes in hearing and vision, seizures, headaches and unexplained bleeding or bruising, the institute said. But most cancers don’t cause pain at first, so you can’t rely on that as a sign.

“We tell patients that if they have symptoms that don’t improve after a few weeks, they should see a doctor,” Kamal said. “That doesn’t mean the diagnosis will be cancer, though.”

Cases increase in young people

Instead of waiting for symptoms, the The key to keeping cancer at bay is prevention. , along with tests to detect the disease in its early stages. This is critical, experts say, as new cases of cancer are on the rise globally.

A surprising number of new diagnoses occur in people under age 50, according to a 2022 review of available research by scientists at Harvard University.

Cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, gallbladder, kidney, liver, pancreas, prostate, stomach and thyroid have increased in people aged 50, 40 and even 30 years since the 1990s.

That’s unusual for a disease that typically strikes people over the age of 60, Kamal said. “Cancer is generally thought of as an age-related condition because you’re giving yourself enough time to have a sort of genetic ‘mistake’.”

Older cells experience decades of wear and tear due to environmental toxins and less favorable lifestyle choices, making them prime candidates for a cancerous mutation.

“We think it takes time for that to happen, but if someone is 35 when they develop cancer, the question is ‘What could have happened?”‘ asked Kamal.

Nobody knows exactly, but smoking, alcohol consumption, air pollution, obesity, lack of physical activity and a diet low in fruits and vegetables are the main risk factors for cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) .

Add them up and you have a potential culprit in early cancers, the Harvard researchers said.

“Increased consumption of highly processed or westernized foods, along with changes in lifestyle, environment… and other factors may have contributed to these changes in exposures,” the researchers wrote in their 2022 review.

“You don’t need 65 years of eating crunchy, charred or processed meat as your main diet, for example,” added Kamal. “What you need is about 20 years, and then you start to see stomach and colorectal cancers, even at young ages.”

So how do you fight the “big C”? Start at age 20, Kamal said.

Get a family history

Many of the most common cancers, including breast, bowel, stomach and prostate, have a genetic basis – meaning that if a close relative was diagnosed, you may have inherited a predisposition to developing this cancer as well.

That’s why it’s critical to know your family’s health history. Kamal suggests that young people sit down with their grandparents and other close relatives and ask them about their illnesses – and then write about it.

“The average person doesn’t really know the level of minutiae that is helpful in assessing risk,” he said.

“When I talk to patients, what they say is, ‘Oh yeah, Grandma had cancer.’ There are two questions I would like to know: At what age was the cancer diagnosed and what specific type of cancer was it? I need to know if she had cancer in her 30s or 60s because that determines her risk level. But often they don’t know.

The same applies to the type of cancer, Kamal said.

“People often say, ‘Grandma had bone cancer.’ Well, multiple myeloma and osteosarcoma are both bone cancers, but they’re both relatively rare,” he said. “So I don’t think Grandma had bone cancer. I think Grandma had another bone cancer, and I need to understand that.”

Next, doctors need to know what happened to that relative. Was the cancer aggressive? What was the response to treatment?

“If I hear that Mom or Grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40 and passed away at 41, then I know that the cancer is very aggressive and that changes my perception of risk. I can order additional tests that are not in the guidelines for your age.”

Cancer screening guidelines are based on population-level assessments, not individual risk, Kamal said. So if cancer (or other conditions like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or even migraines) runs in the family, you become a special case and need a personalized plan.

“And I will say that the entire scientific community is looking at this younger age shift for different types of cancer and is wondering, ‘Should the guidelines be more deliberate and intentional for younger populations to give them some of this advice?’”

do a screening

If the family history does not have cancer, this reduces the risk – but does not eliminate it. You can lower your risk of cancer by eating a healthy plant-based diet, getting the recommended amount of exercise and sleep, limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking or vaping, experts say.

Protecting yourself from the sun and avoiding tanning beds is also key, as harmful ultraviolet rays damage DNA in skin cells and are the main risk factor for melanoma. However, skin cancer can appear even where the sun doesn’t reach, Kamal said.

“There has been an increase in melanoma that is showing up in non-sun exposed areas like the armpits, genital area and between the toes,” he said. “So it’s important to check — or have a partner or dermatologist check — your entire body once a year.”

Skin check: Remove all clothing and carefully look at all of your skin, including the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, between your fingers and buttocks, and in the genital area. Use method A, B, C, D, E (read in english) to review any points of concern, then consult a specialist if you have concerns, advises the American Academy of Dermatology.

Also see a dermatologist if you experience itching, bleeding, or see a wart that looks like an “ugly duckling” and stands out from the rest of the moles on your body.

Get vaccinated: two vaccines protect against cervical and liver cancer, and others for cancers such as melanoma are in development.

A Hepatitis B it is transmitted through blood and sexual fluids and can cause liver cancer and cirrhosis, which is a damaged and injured liver. A series of three vaccines, starting at birth, is part of the US-recommended childhood immunization schedule. Unvaccinated adults should check with their doctor to see if they are eligible.

In Brazil, the vaccine is indicated for people of all age groups. According to the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm), it is part of the routine vaccination of children, and should be applied, preferably, in the first 12-24 hours after birth, to prevent chronic hepatitis – the form that affects 90% of babies contaminated at birth. to be born. It is especially recommended for unvaccinated pregnant women.

A HPV vaccine protects against several strains of the human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The vaccine was gradually incorporated in Brazil into the Unified Health System (SUS) starting in 2014. Vaccination is available for anyone aged 9 to 14 years, regardless of gender.

HPV can cause cervical cancer, as well as vaginal, anal, and penile cancer. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the tongue and tonsils.

“These HPV-related head and neck cancers are more aggressive than non-HPV-related cancers,” said Kamal, “Therefore, both boys and girls should be vaccinated.”

Since the vaccine was approved in 2006 in the US for 11- to 13-year-olds, cervical cancer rates have dropped by 87%. Today, the vaccine can be given up to age 45, the CDC said.

Breast exams: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed worldwide, according to the WHO, followed by lung, colorectal, prostate, skin and stomach cancers.

Both men and women can get breast cancer, so men with a family history should also be aware of the symptoms, experts say. Signs include pain, redness or irritation, dimpling, thickening or swelling of any part of the breast. New lumps, either in the breast or armpit, any pulling of the nipple, and nipple discharge other than breast milk are also worrisome symptoms, the CDC said.

According to the Ministry of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the Brazilian Society of Mastology, breast self-examination is no longer a recommended technique for women to screen for breast cancer.

The Ministry of Health recommends performing a mammogram as a screening method for breast cancer, that is, a routine exam, for women with no signs and symptoms in the age group of 50 to 69 years, every two years.

Exams and tests: Tests and vaccines can save lives, but many types of cancer can only be detected through laboratory tests or biopsies. The American Cancer Society has a recommended age screening list.

Doing so in a timely manner increases the chance of early detection and treatment, but it’s still each person’s responsibility to know their risk factors, Kamal said.

“Remember, the guidelines are only for people at average risk,” he said. “The only way anyone will know if the guidelines apply to them is to really understand their family history.”

(Text translated and adapted)

Source: CNN Brasil

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