Lung, skin, cervical and colorectal cancers are potentially preventable. Avoiding tobacco smoke, taking regular exercise and eating a balanced diet can help to prevent some types of cancer. On 6 February, the lottery draw dedicated to the AECC will take place, the proceeds of which will go to the fight against cancer.
Although it is estimated that by 2030 there will be 26 million new cases of cancer worldwide and 17 million deaths1 from cancer, the good news is that 40% of malignancies are preventable.
According to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), cancers such as lung, skin, cervical and colorectal cancers are potentially preventable by following a series of tips such as not smoking and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke; limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays; and maintaining the right weight through a balanced diet and regular physical exercise.
A campaign focused on young people Preventing cancer is the slogan of the World Cancer Day campaign on 4 February. The risk of developing cancer related to smoking, high alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure and obesity can be significantly reduced by avoiding these risk factors and encouraging healthy behaviours, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet.
For this reason, special emphasis has been placed on young people so that they can adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid a greater chance of suffering from this disease in the future.
The figures for alcohol and tobacco consumption among Spanish teenagers are alarming. More and more young people are starting unhealthy habits such as these earlier, which is why the campaign is aimed at raising awareness and educating them for better cancer prevention.
1 IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. World Cancer Report.
Without tobacco, lung cancer would be a rare disease. There is no longer any doubt that tobacco smoke is directly responsible for 95% of lung cancers. Avoiding its consumption directly or indirectly could prevent nearly 20,000 people from dying in Spain each year. Similarly, tobacco claims the lives of 3,000 passive smokers in our country and 56,000 from diseases caused by this addiction, such as COPD, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, if tobacco smoke did not exist, lung cancer would be a rare disease. This type of neoplasm is the leading cause of cancer mortality in our country and represents 12% of all tumours diagnosed in Spain. Skin cancer, more caution with the sun's rays The skin has a memory and excesses committed in childhood and adolescence can take their toll over the years. In the case of skin carcinoma, one of the most common skin cancers, the main risk factor involved in its appearance is the radiation that reaches the surface of the earth, such as type B (UVB) and type A (UVA). Therefore, careful sunbathing is a way of avoiding possible skin cancer in the future. Colon cancer, a simple test can save lives
Population screening, with a simple test for occult blood in faeces, could prevent 90% of deaths caused by this neoplasm. Colon cancer, which claims the lives of 13,000 people annually, could also be detected early and prevented with a balanced diet, regular exercise and giving up unhealthy habits such as smoking.
Cervical cancer, gynaecological check-ups Cervical cancer is another of the neoplasms that can be avoided in the future by following a few small pieces of advice such as regular appointments with the gynaecologist, taking precautions in sexual relations and being informed about vaccinations against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the vaccination calendar.
Despite what is commonly believed, prophylactic measures during sex (condoms) can reduce the risk of contracting HPV but do not completely prevent it. Moreover, being infected with HPV does not necessarily lead to cervical cancer. Following your gynaecologist's instructions can significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.
6 February, special lottery draw for the aecc Next Saturday, 6 February, the traditional National Lottery Draw will take place in the Segovian town of La Granja de San Ildefonso to benefit the Spanish Association Against Cancer (aecc). In this draw, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado donates all the proceeds from the sale of tickets to our association, deducting from this amount the money from the winning tickets. Under the slogan "United against cancer", the aecc has launched an awareness campaign in which it is committed to the joint effort of the whole of society in the fight against the disease.
The aecc, 56 years of experience in the fight against cancer The aecc is an NPO (Non-Profit Organisation), private and declared of public utility that has been working for 56 years in the fight against cancer. The aecc is made up of patients, families, volunteers and professionals who work together to prevent, raise awareness, support people and finance cancer research projects that will lead to a better diagnosis and treatment of cancer. One of the aecc's priority objectives is quality cancer research, and it was for this purpose that the Scientific Foundation was created on 25 October 1971. The Foundation brings together the social demand for cancer research, financing scientific and social research programmes by public tender. These programmes are aimed at achieving advances in science to improve the future of sick people and their families, to consolidate a scientific structure in Spain and thus contribute to the economic development of our country, bringing the whole of society closer to the cancer research community.
S: PABLO ENRÍQUEZ VALENS AECC PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT