Funmi Lawal before and Funmi the Fighter
Tyler Doherty, a budding 11-year old teenager, died 2005, after 40
rounds of chemotherapy; cause of death - brain cancer. Funmi Lawal, a young
Nigerian lawyer in her late 20s, died April 2013, after a 7-year battle with cost and
disease management; cause of death - bone cancer (shoulder). Funmilayo
Olayinka, 52-year old consummate banker and cerebral deputy-governor in
South-western Nigeria, also died April 2013, 5 years post-diagnosis; cause of
death - breast cancer. Angelina Jolie Voight, 37-year old Academy Award
winner, underwent preventive double mastectomy in February 2013, to reduce
her 87% risk of getting breast cancer to 5%; the procedure entailed losing
her two naturally endowed mammary glands (breasts).
These examples represent the few
out of an approximate 7.9 million cancer-related deaths recorded yearly since
2007; that amounts to an alarming 55.3 million human deaths in 7 years! The
quite more shocking part is that, this number is already on a geometric
increase as we speak. Thus, I welcome you to the Grandest Holocaust, the
World War III, spearheaded by the bullish Generals of CANCER!
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Cancer, medically known as malignant neoplasm, is a
broad group of diseases that involves unnecessary, unregulated and
uncontrollable cell growth and division in any part of the human body, forming
malignant tumours that can invade both nearby and distant parts of such body
through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. The incidences of this rampaging
malaise dates back to about 4-5 centuries ago, and as of today, there are over
200 different known cancers that afflict humans.
The research on cancer or "War Against
Cancer" as ex-President Richard Nixon would have it, is 42 years old this
year, and after spending mammoth time and over 200 billion dollars, sadly
enough, no particular cause nor cure has been found. But, while it has remained
a confusing complex to get that breakthrough, these researches have succeeded
in giving us a plethora of high risk factors (HRFs), on which this article is
basically wrapped around.
The HRFs that predispose one to having cancer are
categorised into 2 broad arms which are: Environmental Factors (90-95%) and
Genetics (5-10%).
"Environmental", as used by cancer
researchers, means any cause that is not inherited genetically, not merely
pollution, and the common environmental factors that contribute to cancer
occurrence include the following:
· Tobacco
and Alcohol (25–30%),
· Diet
and Obesity (30–35%),
· Infections
(15–20%),
· Radiation
(10%),
· Stress
and lack of physical activity (5%), and,
· Environmental
pollutants (5-10%).
Before I move on to succinctly elaborate on these
HRFs, it is important to note that cancer prevention is achievable through
active measures to decrease the risks, especially since a vast majority of
cancer cases are due to environmental risk factors which are controllable
lifestyle choices. Greater than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by
avoiding these high risk factors.
Tobacco and Alcohol (T & A) -
Cancer, as defined above is a disease involving rabid cell growth and
proliferation which is traceable to some mutations in the body. Agents of these
mutations are called "mutagens" and the mutagens that usher cancers
are called "carcinogens". These said, it is known that tobacco smoke
and alcohol (especially the fermented alcohol) contains over 60 known
carcinogens combined! These two have been linked to be responsible for cancers
of the lung, larynx, head, neck, stomach, bladder, kidney, esophagus and
pancreas in both active and passive smokers and alcoholics. While the active
ones are the individuals who really do the smoking or the drinking, the passive
smoker is the one who gets T&A carcinogens into his/her system through
inhalation or mixture of body fluids (kissing or coitus / sex). It is
noteworthy that T&A causes 1 in 3 cancer deaths and 2 in 5 cancer diagnosis
in the world.
Diet and Obesity -
Studies have linked consumption of foods high in fats, cholesterol and salt,
all processed and canned food, red meat, animal fats and refined carbohydrates,
to an increased risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Most of these kinds of foods contain heavy metals and food poisoners in the
guise of preservatives or sweeteners. Carcinogens are known to be more present
in any red meat / fatty food that have been subjected to high heat from coal
(e.g Nigerian Suya). Eating red meat and foods that are fried or baked with
cholesterol-containing vegetable/groundnut oil, and also any form of burnt
food, has been particularly indicated in colorectal cancer. Excess body weight
is associated with the development of many types of cancer and is a factor in
14–20% of all cancer deaths. Dietary recommendations for cancer prevention
typically include an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains (e.g wheat,
ofada rice and soya, sorghum, millet, etc); low-oil fishes (e.g ‘Croakers’,
skinned Salmon) and skinned white meat (skinned chicken and turkey). Vitamin
supplementation is good, but hasn't been established to reduce risk. Also, it
has been shown that consumption of non-caffeinated coffee, especially green and
black tea can reduce the risk of liver cancer.
Infections -
Some viruses, bacteria and parasites have been implicated in cancer HRFs. A
sexually-transmitted virus, HumanPapillomaVirus (HPV), has been shown to be the
precursor in 80% of cases for the cancer of the cervix especially in women who
have multiple sexual partners. Hepatitis B and C viruses have been linked to
cancer of the liver too. Also, a ulcerative bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, has
also been linked to gastric (stomach) cancer. A parasite, mostly found in
poorly-cooked red meat and pork-meat, has been indicted in cancer of the
urinary bladder. While is it best advised to avoid uncouth multi-sex, vaccines
have been developed for HPV, to be taken by women in order to reduce the risk of
cervical cancer. The same has been done for Hepatitis B, to be taken by both
men and women, to reduce the risk of liver cancer. (Hepatitis B vaccines are
given in some Federal Medical Centres in Nigeria for free / some at affordable
rates).
Radiation - Up to 10% of
cancers are related to radiation exposure, including both ionizing radiation
and non-ionizing radiation. Outputs of ionizing radiation that are one of the
main harbinger for leukaemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow), get into our
body through repetitive medical imaging (x-rays, electromagnetic scans, etc)
and inhalation of radon gas. Radon gas is a ubiquitous inert gas that emanates
from the soil, rock and from pressure-driven water supply from private wells
(bore-hole). Radon gas gets carcinogenic when it gets into contact with heat
from indoor furnaces, electric stoves, ovens, concrete floors and asbestos
sheets.
Non-ionizing radiation is the source for most
non-invasive skin cancers and it stems from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet
(UV) rays from the sun, radio frequency from mobile phones/tablets/gadgets, and
proximity to electric power transmission plants. Years of industrial activities
together with human-induced global warming have depleted the protective ozone
layer, thus, the UV exposure. Also, it is advised that while one shades away
from too much sun in the day, our mobile phones should be placed 6-feet away
from our head during sleep when it's off and 9-feet away when it's on.
Stress and Physical Inactivity -
Physical inactivity is believed to contribute to cancer risk not only through
its effect on body weight but also through negative effects on immune system
and endocrine/hormonal system. Some hormones, when too high in the body, have
been linked to sex-related cancers such as the cancer of breast, uterus,
prostate, testis, and ovary, and also thyroid and bone cancers. Obese people,
African men (high testosterone), daughters of women who have or had cancer
(high oestrogen and progesterone), and women who take hormone replacement
therapy (e.g pregnancy prevention/birth control pills), are all more prone to
develop such cancers if they don't undergo rhythmic, regular, non-cumbersome,
early-morning and day-to-day exercise to lower these high hormone levels. A
daily 8-hour, non-REM sleep (non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep), is advised in order
to rest the body cells at night and thus, lower the risks of cancer due to
stress.
Environmental Pollutants -
Prolonged inhalation of Insecticides and Pesticides, Formaldehyde, tobacco
smoke, smoke/fumes from electric power generators, car and motorbike exhausts,
all predispose to many forms of cancer. Chemical additives present in most
stimulating beverages/energy drinks, together with long-term exposure to
chlorinated water also expose the cells to carcinogens. In addition, dioxane,
an environmental pollutant from incinerators, was found to increase the risk of
sarcoma and lymphoma. Chemical reagents replete in most toning cosmetics and
the common substandard metallic ornaments (necklaces, bracelets, etc), and also
perfumes containing nitrates and aromatic hydrocarbons, have been discovered to
combine with ultraviolet sun rays to predispose users of such products to skin
and bone cancers. Some of these pollutants emanate from workplaces and so it is
advised that rigid steps should be taken to be precautionally protective
against such hazards. The common electric power generators are advised to be
placed at an average 16 feet away while on.
Genetic - Hereditary
cancers are primarily caused by an inherited genetic defect, and they have a
high chance (up to 90%) of occurring in affected offsprings if early tests,
detection, and management isn't done. The commonest ones are the breast,
ovarian, colon and rectal cancers.
Cancer is the new
"great imitator", that is, it can take the form of another sickness.
For example, cancer can be mistaken for cough or pneumonia in lung cancer. So,
as per signs and signalling symptoms, it is strongly advised that, caution and
reference, leading to a cancer scan or test, should be made if one is
experiencing any relapsing or nagging "common" sickness or pain
of/from any part of the body, any part whatsoever, in order to employ the use
of early detection for conquest over cancer.
(Some methods have been used to suppress, and to a
larger extent “tame” cancer growth, only when there’s early detection.)
This article is an allegory. This 21st century and its
recklessness is the defining point. This our age is a wanton one. Most of our
activities, especially the ones geared at meeting the demand of population
explosion, have further fuelled the proliferation of cancers all over the
world. For example, our Poultry are injected and fed with steroids and
cholesterol compounds to make them big in few weeks, whereas, they are better
ways to get them hybrid without such hazards, and still meet the demand for
food. Also, we are surprisingly in an age of "tobacco epidemic"
despite the many warn-offs and campaigns against both tobacco smoking and
penchant alcoholism; what wantonness! What a century of despondent obstinacy!
Sadly, these activities and more, as listed above, will make another 10 million
people diagnosed for cancer this year. I am not “pointing fingers”, I'm just
simply sad at our very low threshold for prevention-minded abstinence.......
All these said, one thing that can guarantee wealthy
health bereft of cancer, more than all these abstinence measures stated above,
is the Benevolence of God, the Beneficence of Allah. That, even after one has
tried his/her best to maintain bodily health through a disciplined diet, rest
and exercise, Mercy from above is still the silver-lining. I will be utterly
foolish to say that the loved ones that cancer has maimed didn't receive God's
mercy, rather, I see the Tyler Dohertys, the Funmi Lawals, and the Funmilayo
Olayinkas of this world has legendary martyrs who divinity has allowed to make
the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the remaining living ones, they've been
made like letters written on our hearts to read and infer wisdom from. Ahoy! to
the strength and fighting spirits of the ones gone, Ahoy!.
To we still living,
remember, the first wealth is health.
Gracias......
(More consultation can be done from time to time, in
order to get in-tune with new info and innovations regarding cancer.)
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