By Adegbenro Adenekan
AS the world marked the 2017 World Cancer Day on Saturday,
it is imperative for the people to know what causes cancer and the steps to be
taken to guard against the killer ailment. Cancer is one of the leading killer
diseases in the world today. It leads to abnormal growth of a group of
body cells and more than 250 diseases.
Cancer is malignant
in nature and it claims many lives annually. It can be found in the lungs,
breast, uterus, gall bladder, blood, prostate, thyroid, liver and tongue, to
mention but a few.
This disease is
sometimes characterised by pain, a lump or a sore that does not heal. There is
also sometimes indigestion, difficulty in swallowing, a mole, a thickening or a
lump in the breast, unusual bleeding during menstrual period, discharge, loss
of weight, change in skin colour or a persistent cough, depending on the part of the body affected by the cancer.
About 80 per cent
of cancer cases can be attributed to the violation of the natural law of cause and effect. Tobacco
and alcohol are known cancer causing agents, while heavy consumption of the duo
can lead to cancer of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat, liver, cancer, lungs and
stomach.
Also, a major
contributor to cancer is an exposure to industrial pollutants such as soot,
high doses of x-ray, nickel, tar and asbestos. This can lead to cancer of the
lungs, blood and the skin. Some viral infections, trauma and hormonal
imbalances can also result in cancer. Malnutrition, which compromises the body’s immune system,
can also be a major contributor to cancer. Many biologists believe that cancer
can result from a faulty diet.
