Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that cancer will lord as the leading cause of death by 2010. The disclosure predicts that if trends continue, by 2030 new cancer diagnosis can reach 27 million, jacking up the number of sufferers to 75 million worldwide. A staggering 17 million of them are expected to die in that year surpassing the top killer: cardiac diseases.

It has been noted that cancer worldwide is on the rise, eclipsing the upward climb of infections and heart diseases. Countries like China, Russia, Indonesia, and India are known to have a huge smoking population. It is believed that tobacco-smoking in developing countries is the main reason for the increase in cancer cases, mostly in developing countries where at least 40% of smokers reside. Population growth and better disease recognition also add to fresh cancer diagnoses which are expected to reach 12 million this year.

PHILIPPINES IS SECOND IN THE MOST NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG ASEAN NATIONS
Country/%/# of Smokers in Millions
Indonesia———-46.16%———–58.07
Philippines———16.62%———–20.91
Vietnam————14.11%———–17.75
Burma————–8.73%————10.98
Thailand————7.74%————-9.74
Malaysia————2.90%——– —-3.65
Cambodia———-2.07%————–2.60
Singapore———-0.04%————–0.05
Others————-1.63%————–2.05
ASEAN Countries–Total————- 125.8
Source: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Philstar (09/04/07, Crisostomo, S)

“Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world…Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse,” said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide,” added Peter Boyle, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. —Reuters (12/10/08)

The concern for the cancer problem is real. Though it is potentially preventable and treatable among the major life-threatening chronic diseases, malignancies are blamed for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. With the rising cost of medical services and the sharp increase of those who need care, treatment for cancer will over-burden the healthcare services.

Many countries worldwide aren’t prepared. The medical infrastructures needed to manage cancer patients are lacking or virtually non-existent. Governments are therefore urged to embark on aggressive cancer prevention programs, grassroots anti-smoking and anti-cervical cancer campaigns among others, to combat the emerging top killer. (Photo Credits: Andreia; Laura la Fataliste)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking” Posted by mesiamd at 10/22/2008; “Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010” Posted by mesiamd at 12/11/08.

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Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that cancer will lord as the leading cause of death by 2010. The disclosure predicts that if trends continue, by 2030 new cancer diagnosis can reach 27 million, jacking up the number of sufferers to 75 million worldwide. A staggering 17 million of them are expected to die in that year surpassing the top killer: cardiac diseases.

It has been noted that cancer worldwide is on the rise, eclipsing the upward climb of infections and heart diseases. Countries like China, Russia, Indonesia, and India are known to have a huge smoking population. It is believed that tobacco-smoking in developing countries is the main reason for the increase in cancer cases, mostly in developing countries where at least 40% of smokers reside. Population growth and better disease recognition also add to fresh cancer diagnoses which are expected to reach 12 million this year.

PHILIPPINES IS SECOND IN THE MOST NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG ASEAN NATIONS
Country/%/# of Smokers in Millions
Indonesia———-46.16%———–58.07
Philippines———16.62%———–20.91
Vietnam————14.11%———–17.75
Burma————–8.73%————10.98
Thailand————7.74%————-9.74
Malaysia————2.90%——– —-3.65
Cambodia———-2.07%————–2.60
Singapore———-0.04%————–0.05
Others————-1.63%————–2.05
ASEAN Countries–Total————- 125.8
Source: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Philstar (09/04/07, Crisostomo, S)

“Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world…Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse,” said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide,” added Peter Boyle, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. —Reuters (12/10/08)

The concern for the cancer problem is real. Though it is potentially preventable and treatable among the major life-threatening chronic diseases, malignancies are blamed for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. With the rising cost of medical services and the sharp increase of those who need care, treatment for cancer will over-burden the healthcare services.

Many countries worldwide aren’t prepared. The medical infrastructures needed to manage cancer patients are lacking or virtually non-existent. Governments are therefore urged to embark on aggressive cancer prevention programs, grassroots anti-smoking and anti-cervical cancer campaigns among others, to combat the emerging top killer. (Photo Credits: Andreia; Laura la Fataliste)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking” Posted by mesiamd at 10/22/2008; “Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010” Posted by mesiamd at 12/11/08.

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The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking

In the last week of September 2008, Mar Arguelles wrote in Bicol Mail about a “death clock” which ticks for millions including Filipinos who use tobacco. In support of the anti-smoking initiative, I thought I must blog on smoking because it is truly a menace that is linked to a myriad of respiratory illnesses notably lung cancer, asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and other airway diseases. The adverse effects of smoking go beyond the lungs. The heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, the nervous and urinary systems are among the body organs that bear the brunt of continued exposure to the hazardous biochemical pollutants in cigarette smoke.

In Legazpi City, Philippines, the local government in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH,) multisectoral organizations and preventive medicine advocates introduced the “Death Clock,” a graphic count and warning system on the danger and lethality of smoking. It aims to discourage smoking and urge people to stop the habit. According the World Health Organization (WHO,) smokers in ASEAN countries account for 10% of the 1.25 billion smokers worldwide.

PHILIPPINES IS SECOND IN THE MOST NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG ASEAN NATIONS
Country/%/# of Smokers in Millions
Indonesia———-46.16%———–58.07
Philippines———16.62%———–20.91
Vietnam————14.11%———–17.75
Burma————–8.73%————10.98
Thailand————7.74%————-9.74
Malaysia————2.90%——– —-3.65
Cambodia———-2.07%————–2.60
Singapore———-0.04%————–0.05
Others————–1.63%————–2.05
ASEAN Countries–Total————- 125.8
Source: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Philstar (09/04/07, Crisostomo, S)

The “Death Clock” is a visual countdown on the number of smoking-related deaths since House bill 3364 or the Picture-Based Health Warning Bill was filed in December last year. The visual countdown indicated that 66,960 Filipinos have already died due to smoking-related diseases as of September 24, 2008. At least 1,680 are expected to die within the next seven days. DOH statistics showed that at least 240 Filipinos die every day, or 87,600 every year, due to smoking-related diseases.” Bicol Mail (09/25/08, Arguelles, M)

The smoking problem in the Philippines can be traced to the active promotion of cigarettes in the early 1960’s. As such it is a problem that can be solved by behavior modification—educational campaigns, designation of non-smoking areas in public places, tobacco warning labels, imposition of high cigarette taxes, regulation of tobacco advertising especially among minors, control of cigarette importation, disincentive to those who cultivate and sell tobacco, assistance to those who seek jobs away from the tobacco industry and prosecution of violators of anti-smoking laws.

A sharp drop in the smoking habit has been realized by wide anti-tobacco campaigns in developed countries, yet a sustained drive must be done to totally eradicate the dangerous habit. These approaches have applications in other health problems as well like alcoholism and obesity. (Photo Credits: CRDancer; FranklinParkLibrary.com; sunnyUK) =0=