In the last half of the 20th century, tremendous strides were made in our ability to diagnose and treat cancer. The death rate from cancer has continued to decrease so that at this time between 55 and 60% of all cancers are cured. Of the remaining cancers, over half can be prevented. The single most deadly cancer in the United States today is lung cancer. Over 90% of these deaths could be prevented by removing tobacco from the American scene. For every pack of cigarettes that is sold, we, the American taxpayers, pay thousands of dollars for the health consequences of those cigarettes. Lung cancer can be effectively eradicated by prevention.

Another preventable disease, less frequent than lung cancer, but equally deadly, is melanoma. Avoidance of excessive exposure to the sun significantly decreases the risk of developing melanoma. While sun blockers are of some use, wearing a hat, wearing a shirt, and diminishing the amount of time spent in bright sun, all add up to diminished risk of melanoma. Prevention here again is more effective control than treatment.

For cervix cancer, the early detection and removal of pre-cancerous lesions translates into the prevention of this deadly cancer. Before the introduction of the Pap smear, cancer of the cervix was the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. More women died of cervical cancer than breast cancer and most of these women were in their thirties and forties, a truly tragic disease. With regular Pap smear examinations, a woman's chance of developing cervical cancer has significantly diminished. The precancerous carcinoma in situ is well identified when abnormal cells are seen in a Pap smear. Now we can also detect the papilloma virus, which is the agent that causes cervical cancer and by treating this sexually-transmitted disease, we can prevent the progression to cervical cancer. Practicing safe sex can reduce the risk of a human papilloma virus infection and break the cycle completely.

We can look forward to doing for colorectal cancer what we were able to do for cervical cancer. Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer (a preventable disease) as the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Colon cancer starts as a small benign polyp, which can be identified and removed by examination of the colon with procedures such as colonoscopy. The “dwell time” of a polyp before it is transformed into a cancer is about 5 years. Thus, regular examination of the colon can remove the precancerous lesion and colon cancer will never occur. Of course, if one polyp is removed, perhaps 5 or 10 years later, another polyp may appear.

Continuous surveillance by colorectal screening can eradicate precancerous lesions and essentially remove the risk of colorectal cancer in most people. There is evidence that an aspirin a day can decrease the growth of polyps. For individuals who can take aspirin, this might prevent polyp growth. Celebrex is being studied to see if it can be effective in this regard as well.

There is abundant evidence that a healthy lifestyle, including low fat diet, adequate vegetables, and moderate alcohol consumption (and, of course, no smoking) is associated with a decreased risk of developing breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. The current epidemic of obesity is killing almost as many Americans as smoking, not only from heart disease and stroke and diabetes, but also of cancer. Thus, weight reduction, exercise, healthy diet are all associated with a reduced cancer risk and these are easier to do than to undergo surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or any other form of treatment that we currently have available for cancer. It IS easier to prevent cancer than to cure it.

For more information and answers to specific questions contact the Rhode Island Cancer Council at Tel@ricancercouncil.org or call us at (401) 728-4800 or toll free 866-879-4100.

IT IS EASIER TO PREVENT CANCER THAN TO TREAT IT.

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