February 4th, World Cancer Day, an important opportunity to raise public awareness about this disease that affects millions of people around the world.
On this day, it is essential, in addition to researchers, to recognize the fundamental role of nurses and healthcare professionals in the fight against cancer.
Their daily commitment is on the front line:- They assist patients throughout the entire treatment process, from diagnosis to therapy, offering them physical and psychological support.
- They educate patients and their families about the different types of cancer, risk factors, and prevention strategies.
- They play a key role in cancer research, contributing to the development of new treatments and therapies. Without their work, the fight against cancer would be much more difficult
Cancer is a scourge, in 2020 it caused 10 million deaths, nearly one in six deaths.
Cancers can affect any part of the body and have the ability to invade other parts of the body (metastasis). The most common are breast, lung, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer. One third are due to an unhealthy lifestyle: tobacco, obesity, alcohol, low intake of fruits and vegetables, and lack of physical activity. Hepatitis and HPV are responsible for 30% of cancer cases in low-income countries.
Every year, 400,000 children fall ill.
Prevention remains the main weapon.
It is believed that 50% of cancers can be prevented through prevention and by avoiding risk factors and undergoing early diagnosis. In fact, many cancers, if treated early and adequately, can be cured.
External agents that can cause pre-cancerous lesions and the mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones are:
- physical agents: (ultraviolet radiation)
- chemical carcinogens, (asbestos, smoke, alcohol, arsenic, aflatoxin)
- biological agents (viruses, bacteria, and parasites)
Screening programs are effective for some types of cancer, but not for all.
Nursing Up Emilia Romagna thanks all researchers, nurses, and healthcare professionals, your work is vital for the fight against cancer.
To politicians and all those who can, we ask you to support cancer research with donations and awareness initiatives.
To those who cannot afford to donate, like the writer, a nurse who earns 1600 euros a month, I say do your part, by sharing and spreading the message.
Raising awareness among others is important, share the poster below.
