IT IS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT CANCER
With the European Code Against Cancer and simple lifestyle changes you can reduce your cancer risk
According to World Health Organization data, cancers constitute
one in four deaths and are the second most common cause of death after
cardiovascular diseases. Risk factors for all cancers can be classified as
preventable/modifiable ones and non-preventable/non-modifiable ones. Non-preventable
risk factors can be counted as gender, age, family history, and preventable
risk factors that can be said as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity (sedentary
lifestyle) and obesity. 33% to 50% of cancer-related deaths are based on
preventable causes. With tobacco control, the spread of smokeless fields,
reduction of alcohol consumption, regular daily physical activity and healthy
diet (low in salt and fat, low red meat consumption, high consumption of
cereals, bran, vegetables and fruits), you can reduce your cancer risk.
In order to focus on the preventable causes of cancer,
active student societies at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine met with the
Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and the Cancer Warriors Society
and organized “The First Cancer Prevention Seminar” with the participation of
148 university students.
During the seminar, a video connection with Brussels,
where ECL Head Office is located, made and shared information about cancer
burden in Europe and the health policies of the European Union (EU). Then, head
of Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology Prof.
Dr. Beste Atasoy gave a speech called "Approaches to cancer and treatment
strategies for their patients in Turkey". Secretary-General of Cancer
Warriors Society Belma Kurdoğlu took part in the meeting with her speech on the
reflections of health in civil society and their activities. Association of
European Cancer Leagues (ECL) Turkey Youth Ambassador and also Marmara
University Faculty of Medicine student Yakup Gözderesi told about the European
Cancer Code and cancer prevention strategies. The seminar ended with
interactive questions and answers.
“Cancer is a
chronic disease.”
During her
speech “Approach to Cancer from the Clinician's Point of View” Prof. Dr. Beste ATASOY underlined that
cancer is a chronic disease and she summarized cancer as “It starts and it
never ends. There is treatment, but it depends on certain conditions.”
Unfortunately, many cases can be detected in the advanced stage, so that the
chance of cure for especially some types of cancer is so low, Mrs. Atasoy said,
and she took attention to the importance of early diagnosis in cancer.
She supported that cancer treatment is possible with a
team-work; contains not only doctors but also nurses, psychologists,
nutritionists and social works experts. She emphasized that patients should be
followed up in terms of disease control, late side effects and quality of life
after treatments.
“We are
touching the lives of cancer patients.”
In her speech titled “The Reflections of Civil Society
in Health” Belma Kurdoğlu, Secretary-General of Cancer Warriors Society stated
that they are working on projects that will improve the quality of life of the
individuals living with cancer and will connect them to life. She explained
that with the “Let My Hair Be Your Hair” project, hair donations from 6,000
volunteers, they produced 1500 real wigs and distributed them to individuals
living with cancer for free.
Kurdoğlu also stated that they are one of the NGOs
working in the field of health and engaged in rights-based advocacy activities
and also they held the Myeloma Patient Meetings together with their
stakeholders International Myeloma Foundation. Kurdoğlu underlined that the social life of the individual who is diagnosed with cancer becomes very
different and they touch their lives with the psychological support meetings
they regularly make with the patients.
“Put the
European Code Against Cancer in your life, reduce your cancer risk”
Association of European Cancer Leagues Turkey Youth
Ambassador Yakup Gözderesi shared the Cancer Code (ECAC) with participants,
including anti-cancer recommendations on lifestyle components such as tobacco,
alcohol, sedentary life and nutrition, as well as exposures such as sunlight,
work-induced chemicals, radon, and prevention techniques such as vaccination
and screening activities. He underlined that the ECAC is a list of recommendations,
as well as applying the code to individuals' lives; it needs support from
governments in terms of policies.
“Totally compliance with the ECAC will result in a
significant reduction in the incidence of preventable cancers in the future and
a 40% or even 50% reduction in the incidence of all cancers.” said Yakup
Gözderesi and he invited all participants to put the ECAC to their lives.
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