Cancer Facts & Figures #WORLD CANCER DAY

Cii Radio| Ayesha Ismail| 10 February 2017| 12 Jumadul ula 1438

What is cancer?

“Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases characterized by the growth of abnormal cells beyond their usual boundaries that can then invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs. Other common terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. Cancer can affect almost any part of the body and has many anatomic and molecular subtypes that each requiring specific management strategies.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and accounted for 8.8 million death in 2015. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervix and stomach cancer are the most common among women.”(WHO)

OTHER TYPES OF CANCERS:
Melanoma(cancer of the skin) ,Cancer of the Kidney, cancer of the Thyroid, cancer of the Ovaries ,cancer of the Pancreas ,cancer of the Mouth , cancer of the bone , cancer of the Bladder , cancer of the Blood(Leukaemia) , cancer of the Uterus etc….

LATEST FIGURES BY THE WHO:

–14 million develop cancer every year
–8.8 million die every year 1/6 deaths
–2/3 in developing countries
–The total cost due to cancers only: $1.16 trillion/year

Cancer is a global problem!
EARLY DIAGNOSIS is the WHO slogan this year which is based on AWARENESS of the early symptoms of cancers , so one can be treated easily and successfully especially by surgical removal.

Cancer is not “A DEATH SENTENCE”!
Otherwise is too late to treat especially when is neglected and undiagnosed, and METASTASIS do develop after and produce cancers in other organs of the body?
It was reported before in all the British media that by 2020,1/2 of us will get cancer, instead of 1/3 as it is now, and as stated by Macmillan cancer support?
So the number of cancers is rising all the times !

It is believed that this rise in the cases of cancers could be due to living longer and having more or early diagnosis .
People with cancers are surviving more today because of the progress in the treatment of cancers.

THESE ARE THE FACTS ON CANCERS IN THE UK :

–1/3 will die from cancer.
– More than 20 millions have got cancers
–Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.
–45 000 new cases of breast cancers every year:12 000 women die from the cancer
–35 000 new cases of prostate cancers every year
–in 2005 there were 290 000 cases of cancers resulting in 153 000 deaths
–Up to 50% of cancers can be prevented by changing one’s behaviour and life style.

There are 280 organisations in 90 countries who are fighting cancers today .

ISLAM’S CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF MANY CANCERS(not all) AND FOR REDUCING ITS NUMBER BY AVOIDING THESE KNOWN RISK FACTORS:

– The prohibition of drinking ALCOHOL will help to prevent many cancers in the body:
mouth, stomach and – latest research shows the colon.
Alcohol causes 6% of all cancer deaths.
It also increases the risk of cancers in:
The oesophagus, Larynx, breast, liver, ovaries, head and neck…Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of cancers in young children.
About 5000 die every year from these cancers which are caused by alcohol.

– Avoiding SMOKING completely will reduce the number of cancers affecting the lungs, kidneys ,mouth, throat,oesophagus,bladder,breast,cervix,pancreas,stomach,liver…. (Smoking has been prohibited by more than 500 Legal Islamic Rulings/Fatawas in the Muslim world.)

– Cancer of the BREAST:
Risk factors: lack of breastfeeding , alcohol, smoking, saturated fat, abortion, lack of exercises.
(Islam prohibits and discourages all these risk factors)

– SKIN cancer(malignant melanoma):
Risk factor: much exposure of one’s skin to the sun while, for example (but not exclusively) on the beach. Unsurprisingly, women are the most common victims.
Within a decade, Melanoma has increased by 43%, according to Cancer Research UK.
“Those who behaved badly on holiday in their teens BY NOT COVERING UP( almost naked) or applying sun cream are now seeing the effect in their forties”
Islam opposes any nakedness in public or on the seaside, especially women and do not support the “burning” of one’s skin by the sun

– Male circumcision helps in the prevention of cancer in the PENIS and some CERVICAL CANCER. The latter is also caused by sexual promiscuity, which is forbidden in Islam
Male Circumcision has been found also by the WHO to prevent 60% of HIV/AIDS infections.

– Cancer of the WOMB is common when marriage/pregnancy have been avoided. or in celibacy( and among the nuns)
Islam asked us to get married reasonably young and to produce many children(pregnancies)

–Cancer of the CERVIX of the womb: it is common among promiscuous girls/women(Zina)
and when they sleep with uncircumcised men.!

–Islam prescribed a healthy halal natural(Tayyib) diet and a lot of exercises which will avoid us too many cancers like: Colon cancer.

The Superior Islamic HYGIENIC daily practices ,as in ablution/wudu before prayer :hand washing … and the strict moral code will avoid us a lot of infections which might lead to cancers and to many other diseases.

–The Islamic way of life do give us a strong natural Immune defence system which will avoid us many cancers.
ADDRESSING ALL THE ABOVE RISK FACTORS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE ISLAMIC BEHAVIOUR WILL , NO DOUBT, PREVENT AND REDUCE A LARGE NUMBER OF CANCERS AMONG THE MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD!

Islamic behaviour does avoid us also a lot of other diseases especially those coming from alcohol, smoking and sexual immorality. Breastfeeding which is prescribed in Islam, will avoid our children and women a lot of diseases too!

No doubt, Islam is a great asset for the HEALTH OF OUR NATION and FOR EVERY NATION , and is very much cost effective and economic and will save million of lives and trillion of pounds/dollars!

In the Name of ALLAH, the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful

“WE SENT DOWN IN THE QUR’AN THAT WHICH IS HEALING AND A MERCY TO THE BELIEVERS…” (AL QUR’AN : Chapter 17-Verse 82)

GOD’s PRESCRIPTION to mankind is for our all health!

This DIVINE PRESCRIPTION IS FREE AND AVAILABLE TO EVERY ONE AND TO ANY SOCIETY AND TO ALL DOCTORS,HOSPITALS AND TO ALL PEOPLE in the world.

Finally we like to recommend these facilities AND ACTIONS FOR THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF ANY CANCER:
-Female doctor for the female Muslim patient , especially in order to check her Breasts Cervix and ovaries
Culture sensitivity is important.
-Easy available clinics for check up and screening
-Free or nominal fee in order to encourage people to do the early diagnosis
Poverty is a big factor in getting late diagnosis !
It should be well addressed!

WE LIKE TO APPEAL TO ALL MUSLIM DOCTORS AND MUSLIM MEDICS TO MAKE USE OF THIS :
WORLD CANCER DAY on 4th February by the WHO , FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS TO:
EDUCATE OUR OWN MUSLIM COMMUNITY EVERYWHERE ABOUT CANCERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS THROUGH THE MUSLIM AND NON MUSLIM T MEDIA: TVs/RADIOs AND IN ALL THE MOSQUES AT FRIDAY PRAYER IN THE SERMON.

Is useful to utilise the mosques/schools/centres for organised national medical education.
More information:

WHO Cancer information: http://www.who.int/cancer/en/

WHO Guide on early cancer diagnosis: www.who.int/cancer/publications/cancer_early_diagnosis/en/

Article by Dr A.Majid Katme(MBBCh,DPM) – Ex-President: Islamic Medical Association/UK

References: Organisations On Cancers :
-Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org
-Macmillan cancer support: www.macmillan.org.uk
-The British Association for Cancer Research: www.bacr.org.uk
-Cancer Index: www.cancerindex.org
Advice: www.canceradvice.co.uk
National Cancer Research Institute: www.icri.org.uk