In Peru, the most common cancers are prostate, breast, stomach, colorectal and cervical cancer, according to Globocan 2022. Having a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise, a balanced diet, medical check-ups, not smoking, limiting alcohol, protecting oneself from the sun and getting vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus, is key to reducing the risk of developing neoplasms, emphasizes Dr. Diego Ponce De León, oncologist at our clinic. Today, on the occasion of World Cancer Day, he gives us more details about the factors that have an impact on the increase in cancer cases.

• Population aging. As people live longer, the risk of developing age-related cancers increases. A study by Ju W et al. indicates that aging contributes to 56.5% of new cases and 63.3% of deaths from this disease worldwide.
• More people, more risks. Population growth increases the number of people exposed to risk factors, raising the probability of developing cancer.
• Lifestyle changes. Unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption have increased the risk of neoplasms such as breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. Fast food consumption and lack of physical activity are part of the routine of millions of people.
• Environmental risks. Pollution, prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun and contact with occupational carcinogens contribute to the increased incidence of cancer. Although exposure to these risks is part of the daily activities of a large number of men and women, their impact is being recognized by various studies and research.
• Smoking continues to be one of the main causes of cancer, such as lung, mouth, throat and bladder cancer. Despite preventive campaigns, this habit continues to be a public health challenge.
• Technology and early diagnosis. Advances in detection make it possible to identify more cases, including those that previously went undetected, which influences the increase in the number of diagnoses.
• Early exposures to risk factors. A rise in the incidence of neoplasms has been observed in younger generations, suggesting that exposures during the early stages of life, such as hormonal changes, inadequate diets or environmental factors, could be playing an important role in the increase in cases.

Remember:

Cancer is a complex disease, understanding its risk factors is the first step in preventing it. Although some conditions such as age or genetics are uncontrollable, lifestyle changes and increased health care awareness make a big difference in reducing the incidence.

Dr. Diego Ponce De León
Oncologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma