We previously defined cancer as a generic term for a large group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade other tissues. We learnt cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems; and that this is not just one disease, but many diseases with more than 100 kinds of cancer.
In this follow-up article, we discuss the early detection, care and the general treatment of cancers. There is also a summary of the key points discussed so far, and the response of the World Health Organization to cancers worldwide.
Early detection
Cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. There are 2 components of early detection:1). Early diagnosis
When identified early, cancer is more likely to respond to effective treatment and can result in a greater probability of surviving, less morbidity, and less expensive treatment. Significant improvements can be made in the lives of cancer patients by detecting cancer early and avoiding delays in care.Early diagnosis consists of 3 steps that must be integrated and provided in a timely manner:
- awareness and accessing care
- clinical evaluation, diagnosis and staging
- access to treatment.
2). Screening
Screening aims to identify individuals with abnormalities suggestive of a specific cancer or pre-cancer who have not developed any symptoms and refer them promptly for diagnosis and treatment.Screening programmes can be effective for select cancer types when appropriate tests are used, implemented effectively, linked to other steps in the screening process and when quality is assured. In general, a screening programme is a far more complex public health intervention compared to early diagnosis.
Examples of screening methods are:
- visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer in low-income settings;
- HPV testing for cervical cancer;
- PAP cytology test for cervical cancer in middle- and high-income settings; and
- mammography screening for breast cancer in settings with strong or relatively strong health systems.
Treatment
A correct cancer diagnosis is essential for adequate and effective treatment because every cancer type requires a specific treatment regimen that encompasses one or more modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Determining the goals of treatment and palliative care is an important first step, and health services should be integrated and people-centred. The primary goal is generally to cure cancer or to considerably prolong life. Improving the patient's quality of life is also an important goal. This can be achieved by supportive or palliative care and psychosocial support.1). Potential for cure among early detectable cancers
Some of the most common cancer types, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer, and colorectal cancer have high cure rates when detected early and treated according to best practices.2). Potential for cure of some other cancers
Some cancer types, even when cancerous cells have traveled to other areas of the body, such as testicular seminoma and leukaemias and lymphomas in children, can have high cure rates if appropriate treatment is provided.Palliative care
Palliative care is treatment to relieve, rather than cure, symptoms caused by cancer and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Palliative care can help people live more comfortably. It is an urgent humanitarian need for people worldwide with cancer and other chronic fatal diseases and particularly needed in places with a high proportion of patients in advanced stages of cancer where there is little chance of cure.Relief from physical, psychosocial, and spiritual problems can be achieved in over 90% of advanced cancer patients through palliative care.
Palliative care strategies
Effective public health strategies, comprising of community- and home-based care are essential to provide pain relief and palliative care for patients and their families in low-resource settings.Improved access to oral morphine is mandatory for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain, suffered by over 80% of cancer patients in terminal phase.
Key facts
- Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases in 2012.
- The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades.
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Globally, nearly 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer.
- Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Around one third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use.
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 22% of cancer deaths.
- Cancer-causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papilloma virus (HPV), are responsible for up to 25% of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries.
- Late-stage presentation and inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are common. In 2015, only 35% of low-income countries reported having pathology services generally available in the public sector. More than 90% of high-income countries reported treatment services are available compared to less than 30% of low-income countries.
- The economic impact of cancer is significant and is increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately US$ 1.16 trillion.
- Only 1 in 5 low- and middle-income countries have the necessary data to drive cancer policy.
WHO response
In 2013, WHO launched the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2020 that aims to reduce, by 25%, premature mortality from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases by 2025. See below link for document on this:WHO and IARC collaborate with other UN organizations within the UN Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and partners to:
- increase political commitment for cancer prevention and control;
- coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis;
- monitor the cancer burden (as part of the work of the Global Initiative on Cancer Registries);
- identify priority strategies for cancer prevention and control;
- generate new knowledge and disseminate existing knowledge to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based approaches to cancer control;
- develop standards and tools to guide the planning and implementation of interventions for prevention, early diagnosis, screening, treatment and palliative and survivorship care;
- facilitate broad networks of cancer control partners and experts at global, regional and national levels;
- strengthen health systems at national and local levels to deliver cure and care for cancer patients;
- provide global leadership as well as technical assistance to support governments and their partners build and sustain high-quality cervical cancer control programmes; and
- provide technical assistance for rapid, effective transfer of best practice interventions to less-developed countries.
Reference(s)
1). World Health Organization: Cancer - WHO Fact Sheets. Accessed 06.08.2017. Available here: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/
2). Centers for Disease Control: Cancer Prevention and Control. Accessed 06.08.2017. Available here: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/index.htm
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