CANCER!! The 21st Century Monster .

The Late Rosemary Nankabirwa

Its with deep pain that I pay Tribute to the Fallen Ugandan Journalists who have all succumbed to Cancer. Its very alarming and worrying that in a very short time the country has lost three strong figures in the field of journalism.
Cancer the disease that has claimed many important lives and caused many repetitive operations to those that continue to survive with it. Just less than five months , Uganda has lost three prominent journalists namely  Dan Kyazze,72 years who passed on in February. Not so long after that tearful moment the monster claimed yet another life of Veteran Journalist Bbale Francis, 61years  who succumbed to cancer at the beginning of April.

Fallen TV and Radio Journalist Dan Kyazze

In recent breaking News is the demise of NTV Uganda News anchor Rosemary Nankabirwa who succumbed to adreno-cortical carcinoma, cancer of the adrenal gland on Sunday afternoon at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Rosemary breathed her last moments after some good amounts of money were raised in the car wash fund drive campaign.

In my opinion its high time for this serious killer to be tackled massively by both government and private sector. I have gone an extra mile to read about some of the cancer basics that individuals need to have on their finger tips so as to be able to visit a doctor incase of suspicious illness that could be cancer.

The Late Bbale Francis

Basic Information About Cancer that you need to know;

Cancer also known as a malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumors are cancerous; benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Possible signs and symptoms include:
I. a new lump,
ii. abnormal bleeding,
iii. a prolonged cough,
iv. unexplained weight loss, and
v.  a change in bowel movements, among others.

While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may also occur due to other issues. There are over 100 different known cancers that affect humans.
Tobacco use is the cause of about 22% of cancer deaths. Another 10% is due to obesity, a poor diet, lack of physical activity, and consumption of ethanol (alcohol). Other factors include certain infections, exposure to ionizing radiation, and environmental pollutants. In the developing world nearly 20% of cancers are due to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human papillomavirus. These factors act, at least partly, by changing the genes of a cell. Typically many such genetic changes are required before cancer develops. Approximately 5–10% of cancers are due to genetic defects inherited from a person's parents. Cancer can be detected by certain signs and symptoms or screening tests. It is then typically further investigated by medical imaging and confirmed by biopsy.

Prevention of Cancer
I.  Many cancers can be prevented by not smoking,
 ii. Maintaining a healthy weight,
iii. Not drinking too much alcohol,
iv. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains,
v.  Being vaccinated against certain infectious diseases,
vi. Not eating too much red meat, and
vii.  Avoiding too much exposure to sunlight.

Early detection through screening is useful for cervical and colorectal cancer. However the benefits of screening in breast cancer are controversial. Cancer is often treated with some combination of radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Pain and symptom management are an important part of care. Palliative care is particularly important in those with advanced disease.The chance of survival depends on the type of cancer and extent of disease at the start of treatment. In children under 15 at diagnosis the five year survival rate in the developed world is on average 80%. For cancer in the United States the average five year survival rate is 66%.

Its always true that prevention is better than cure and the best time to cross check yourself is the best thing to do as a way of fighting this monster that still continues to claim many lives.

By Mwebya Fred
mwbyfred@gmail.com 
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