Preventive measures against lung cancer

Preventive measures against lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in industrialized societies. Likewise, the mortality ranking of this type of cancer is increasing at unrestrained scales throughout the rest of the world (Goodman, 2000). What actions should government leaders take to prevent their population from suffering from lung cancer?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), at least one third of all cancer cases may be preventable. In the article below, preventive measures will be demonstrated, which in theory will contribute to a decrease in the lung cancer death rate.

Pulmonary carcinogenesis is the result of a chronic process where multiple genetic and cellular alterations occur within the body. The transformation of normal cells to preneoplastic cells involves a series of damage to the genetic material, as well as epigenetic factors. Overwhelmingly, smoking is attributed to about 85% as the leading cause of lung cancer. The rest of the cases are related to environmental smoke, exposure to other carcinogens (radon, asbestos), inconsistency in the diet, among others (De la Cruz, Charles, et al. 2011).

Therefore, the approach to combating this disease should be directed, for the most part, to the primary cause of lung cancer, tobacco abuse (Goodman, 2000).

The FCTC (Framework Convention for Tobacco Control) is a treaty carried out by WHO, which establishes a preventive protocol against tobacco abuse. Countries can rely on such treaty to execute and manage tobacco control interventions within their boundaries. Likewise, an action plan underlying the FCTC known as MPOWER, offers support to facilitate the process of reducing the demand for tobacco in the population. MPOWER has several informative schemes such as:

• Monitor tobacco consumption and prevention policies

• Protect the population from tobacco smoke

• Offer help to quit tobacco

• Warn about the dangers of tobacco

• Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

• Increase taxes on tobacco

As far as the political sphere is concerned, it is up to the government to follow the plan developed by the FCTC, as well as to encourage the creation of anti-smoking campaigns and charge tariffs to companies that produce cigarettes. Although the cigarette ban would impact the country's economy at exponential levels, by applying the necessary tax reforms, the income generated by this product will not be affected in the long term.

Likewise, the availability of support services and the development of advertising anti-tobacco campaigns, in addition to the high prices of cigarette packages, will discourage the individual from consuming them regularly. All with the objective of reducing the risk of lung cancer.

References:

• Goodman, G. E. (2000). Prevention of lung cancer. Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology, 33 (3), 187-197. doi: 10.1016 / s1040-8428 (99) 00074-8

• WHO | MPOWER brochures and other resources. (2014, November 12). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/publications/es/.

• WHO | Cancer prevention. (2017, August 9). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/es/.

• De la Cruz, C. S., Tanoue, L. T., & Matthay, R. A. (2011). Lung Cancer: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Prevention. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 32 (4), 605–644. doi: 10.1016 / j.ccm. 2011.09.001