6 cancer prevention steps suggested in society’s report

New cancer cases and deaths continue to rise steadily as Canada’s population grows and ages, according to a new report.

The Canadian Cancer Society and Public Health Agency of Canada released their annual report on cancer statistics on Wednesday.

Current estimates suggest an estimated 202,400 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year and there will be 78,800 deaths from cancer.

• Healthy lifestyle ‘stacks the deck’ for cancer prevention

Canadians aged 50 to 79 represent about 70 per cent of all new cancer cases and almost 62 per cent of cancer deaths, the report’s authors said.

Half of new cancer cases will be lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Of these, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death — more than the other three combined.

While the majority of Canadians who develop cancer, 89 per cent, are over the age of 50, cancer was also the leading cause of disease-related death in children under the age of 15 in 2012.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths, followed by cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, and accidents.

HPV cancer prevention

The report includes a chapter on HPV-associated cancers. Almost 4,400 Canadians will be diagnosed with HPV cancers this year. Mouth and throat cancers now represent about a third of HPV cancers in the country.

The HPV vaccine that plays a role in cancer prevention is offered to girls in all provinces and territories and to boys in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, P.E.I. and Quebec.

The Canadian Cancer Society is calling on other provinces and territories to expand free vaccination programs to boys. 

It also said reducing the risk of cancer can be achieved through measures such as:

•  Avoiding smoking: Tobacco is responsible for nearly one-quarter of cancer deaths worldwide, making it the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer.
   
• Following a healthy lifestyle: Eating well, being active and having a healthy body weight can prevent about one-third of the 12 major cancers worldwide, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. Eating well includes having a diet high in vegetables, fruit and fibre, and low in red and processed meat. Being active includes daily activities that get the heart going and reducing the amount of time spent sitting.
   
• Reducing alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a risk factor for many different types of cancer, and the risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.
   
• Avoiding overexposure to sunlight and not using tanning beds or sun lamps: Limiting time in midday sun, wearing protective clothing, seeking shade and using sunscreen can help reduce the risk of skin cancer while still allowing people to receive the health benefits of sun exposure.
   
• Preventing cancer-related infections: Vaccines can protect against some infections associated with cancer, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C. Lifestyle can also play an important role in preventing infection.
   
• Reducing exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens: The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified almost 200 agents as known or probable carcinogens, including radon, asbestos, air pollution, arsenic and many industrial chemicals.