THE SILENT KILLER

Fighting Cancer Emblem

Hullo!

Happy midweek!

So, I asked a friend what he'd like to read about this week, and he said CANCER.

Cancer isn't something I can talk about in 100 words. It's a whole textbook on it's own. Nonetheless, I'll try my best to summarize it over the next few weeks because of its increasing trend in Nigeria. It doesn't respect age, sex or socioeconomic status. 

Most cancers start with a swelling - on the skin, inside the body etc - so, basically, the misconception is that all swellings are cancerous. Actually, there are some swellings that are not cancerous. They are called Benign. An example is a Fibroadenoma (breast)  that is common in young women. With a simple surgery after series of investigations, it's gone.

However, it is important to take all swellings seriously, so as to be on the safe side.

WHAT CAUSES CANCER?

This is a question many desire answers to, after all, prevention is better than cure.

Today, I'll talk about the general ones - the ones common to all cancers. 

Age - youngsters are prone to Fibroadenoma, while breast malignancies are more common amongst the older women; prostate cancer is seen in men above 45years.

Sex - as cervix is to women ONLY, and breast is to women (and about 1% of men), so is prostate to the men ONLY.

Family History - if positive, relatives should be screened and treated appropriately. Angelina Jolie is a perfect example. 

Genetics - some genes have been implicated. An example is the BRCA - 1 and BRCA - 2 in breast.

Social History - smoking and alcohol intake ain't only linked to hypertension and diabetes; they also have a good share in malignancies. 

Drug History - long term use of contraceptives. 

These are some out of the several causes.

Next week, I'll discuss the signs, symptoms and possible treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and palliatives) for some common cancers in Nigeria. 

I happen to be a Cancer Avocate. You can read some articles on www.curbcancerng.com and follow us on Twitter (@curbcancerng) 

Enjoy the rest of the week in peace.

Drop your Comments and Questions and be sure I will get back to you personally.

Dr. 'Lara.