February 4: World Cancer Day

Today, February 4th, we celebrate World Cancer Day, a moment dedicated to raising awareness and preventing one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Foto 1 - Giornata Mondiale Contro il Cancro

Cancer, or malignant neoplasm, is a condition in which some cells in the body begin to behave abnormally, no longer respond to signals from nearby cells and grow in an uncontrolled manner, damaging the surrounding tissues.[1] Based on the type of cells from which they originate, tumors are classified as:

● Carcinomas: arise from epithelial cells.

● Sarcomas: originate from bones or connective tissue.

● Leukemias and lymphomas: they affect the precursors of blood cells.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer causes more than 7 million deaths each year. Its incidence is increasing especially in developing countries, where environmental factors and lifestyles contribute to the risk. The main risk factors are: smoking, alcohol, obesity, unbalanced diet, exposure to natural radiation without skin protection or frequent medical radiation, as well as genetic predisposition. [2] Early diagnosis is vital to identify the problem early and intervene before it takes over, invading and damaging surrounding tissues and compromising their functionality. The main therapies include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and diet therapy. Personalized medicine allows treatment to be adapted to the genetic characteristics of the tumor. [3] Nutrition plays a central role both as a prevention tool and as support for cancer patients. A correct diet can help improve the prognosis, avoiding the risk of nutrient or micronutrient deficiencies, conditions that could further worsen the patient's health. [4] Prevention is one of the most powerful weapons at our disposal today. Adopting good habits such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, engaging in regular physical activity, and following a healthy, balanced diet are effective tools for significantly reducing the likelihood of developing cancer.[5] World Cancer Day therefore reminds us of the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and scientific research. Every healthy lifestyle choice, every screening, and every contribution to research can make a difference and give new hope to those affected by this condition.

Bibliographic References:

[1]American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/what-is-cancer.html [2]World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer [3]Siegel, R.L., Miller, K.D., Wagle, N.S., & Jemal, A. (2023). Cancer statistics, 2023. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 73(1), 17–48. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21763 [4]Arends, J., Bachmann, P., Baracos, V., Barthelemy, N., Bertz, H., Bozzetti, F., Fearon, K., Hütterer, E., Isenring, E., Kaasa, S., Krznaric, Z., Laird, B., Larsson, M., Laviano, A., Mühlebach, S., Muscaritoli, M., Oldervoll, L., Ravasco, P., Solheim, T., Strasser, F., … Preiser, J.C. (2017). ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 36(1), 11–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2016.07.015 [5]Wiseman MJ (2019). Nutrition and cancer: prevention and survival. The British journal of nutrition, 122(5), 481–487. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518002222