CANCER has become one of the top killers in the world and Zimbabwe has not been spared.
Cancer is normally named after the body part it emanates from and according to the Zimbabwe Demographic Summary, prostate and cervical cancers are in the top five death-causes in the country.
HIV/AIDS still leads, followed by influenza and pneumonia, with prostate cancer on third position.
Strokes are on number four while cervical cancer occupies fifth position.
About 15 types of cancer which include, bladder, stomach colon, liver, ovary and skin are in the top 50 causes of deaths in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Cancer Day which falls on February 4.
The celebrations which were held in Mutare were celebrated under the theme, “We can – I can, every action counts”.
Cancer Association of Zimbabwe information, research and evaluation officer Lovemore Makurirofa said the theme complements last year’s theme.
“This year’s theme complements last year‘s theme, ‘Cancer –not beyond us’.
“Indeed cancer is not beyond us and ‘we can’ do a lot in the prevention and control of cancer,” said Makurirofa.
He added that about 50 percent of the most common cancers can be prevented through reducing alcohol consumption, healthier diets and improved physical activity while avoiding smoking
It is estimated that tobacco use accounts for five million deaths every year (22 percent of all cancer deaths), therefore reducing the rate of tobacco use would significantly decrease the global burden of a large number of cancers, including lung, oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney, cervix and stomach as well as acute myeloid leukemia cancers.
Alcohol use has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, bowel, liver and breast.
Makurirofa noted that overweight and obesity are strongly linked to an increased risk of bowel, breast, uterine, ovarian, pancreatic, oesophagus, kidney and gallbladder cancers later in life.
Overweight and obesity are strongly linked to people’s eating habits and lifestyles.
He added that healthy behaviours should be fostered in workplaces, schools, homes and other related settings and further called for the nation to invest in cancer prevention and control rather than dealing with the consequences.
“It makes a lot of economic sense for a nation to invest in cancer prevention and control than dealing with the consequences,” Makurirofa said.
“Failure to invest in cancer prevention means that the nation will not be able to cope with the increase in the cancer cases and this will retard development due to increased health spending at the expense of the productive sectors of the economy.
“It should be noted that a thriving economy largely depends on a healthy workforce. The non-communicable diseases burden, if not controlled, is likely to retard Zimbabwe’s developmental aspirations.”
Makurirofa called for the creation of 100 percent smoke free zones and wellness programmes, especially in workplaces, to encourage employees to adopt healthy behaviours and support participation in screening programmes for early diagnosis. Employers should put up measures to prevent occupational exposure to cancer-causing agents, such as asbestos and other workplace carcinogens.
He noted that the availability, affordability and accessibility of cancer services need to be improved across the cancer care continuum. Early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care services should be accessible to every citizen.

Ten ways to reduce your cancer risk

l Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. Weight gain, overweight and obesity increase the risk of a number of cancers, including bowel, breast, prostate, pancreatic, endometrial, kidney, gallbladder, esophageal and ovarian cancers.
l Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Physical activity decreases the risk of colon, endometrial, and postmenopausal breast cancer. As fitness improves, aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate, or for 30 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity every day.
l Avoid sugary drinks and limit consumption of energy-dense food. Foods that are high in fats, added sugars, and/or low in fibre, such as many fast and convenience foods, as well as sodas and energy drinks, promote weight gain that is associated with a higher cancer risk.
l Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and pulses such as beans.
l Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
l Limit alcoholic drinks. Limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.
l Limit consumption of salt and avoid moldy grains and cereals. Limit consumption of processed foods with added salt to ensure an intake of less than 2,4g sodium a day. Do not eat moldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes).
l Where possible, aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone, instead of using supplements to try to protect against cancer.
l It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to be overweight as children or adults.
l After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention. Follow the recommendations for diet, healthy weight and physical activity from your doctor or trained professional.
Source: World Cancer Research Fund International