The World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization (WHO) have proposed the Latin America and Caribbean Code to Combat Cancer, proposing 17 concrete actions for cancer prevention based on scientific evidence and adapted to the regional context.
These entities emphasize that one third of cancer cases can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
Other recommended measures include breastfeeding to reduce the risk of breast cancer; avoiding smoke accumulation in the home; protecting yourself from infections such as hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus (HPV), and bacteria Helicobacter pyloriattributed to different types of cancer; and menopausal hormone replacement therapy is resorted to only when medically indicated.
The code highlights that in our region, poverty, homelessness and difficulties accessing health services are additional barriers to successful implementation.
“The biggest inequalities are in effective coverage of treatment, either because people with fewer resources are unable to access early diagnosis and arrive with cancers that are outside the treatment range, or because they arrive on time but don’t get treatment in time”
Catterina Ferreccio, one of the leaders of the Code against Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean
“Before the pandemic, different experts were already starting to make concrete recommendations for the public and policymakers,” he said in a statement with Science Development Network Mauricio Maza, Regional Advisor for Cancer Prevention and Control, Pan American Health Organization.
Cancer killed 1.4 million people in the Americas in 2020 alone, with an estimated 4 million cases, which may increase to 6 million by 2040. “Lengthening lifespan increases the risk of cancer, but in many cases medical services are also deficient,” experts admit.
The most commonly diagnosed cancer types among men in the region are lung (11.7%), colorectal (10.2%) and prostate (8.6%). In women, breast (30.7%), lung (10.3%), and colorectum (9.6%).
In addition to the genetic factors that contribute to the disease, there are also external factors that require more urgent attention.
“Tobacco is one of the most potent carcinogens and, in addition to polluting indoor air, is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,” explains Catterina Ferreccio, one of the researchers responsible for the paper.
On the other hand, the Code emphasizes the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including diet and physical activity. That’s why it recommends banning the consumption of ultra-processed foods or sugary drinks in schools and public buildings, and encouraging the creation of spaces for exercise.
“In Latin America, obesity rates have increased significantly,” Mazza added. “Fat accumulation and alcohol consumption are linked to 15 sites in the body where cancer may develop. “Exercise can reduce this risk. “
For Verónica Pesce, director of Argentina’s National Cancer Institute, the document “highlights recommendations that countries in the region are implementing in different ways,” but warned that structural and socioeconomic deficits could limit their implementation.
“Our latest national risk factor survey shows that the proportion of the population meeting recommended intakes of fruit and vegetables is very low,” he said.
New treatments and early detection
The World Health Organization recalls that approximately 13% of cancer diagnoses in the world are caused by infections, including HPV.
On a positive note, for the first time in history, one cancer – cervical cancer – can be eliminated thanks to biomolecular screening tests and the HPV vaccine.
Pesce confirmed that an effective screening policy, which identifies the disease in individuals even if they are asymptomatic, can lead to more effective treatment and better survival prognosis, adding that detecting precursor lesions can also prevent the development of colorectal cancer.
However, Maza warned that countries such as Paraguay and Bolivia had shortcomings in screening programs and ensuring treatment. Overall, “the biggest inequalities are in effective coverage of treatment, either because people with fewer resources are unable to access early diagnosis and arrive with cancers that are outside the treatment range, or because they arrive on time but are unable to access treatment in a timely manner” , Ferrecio said.
Economic inequality in the region appears to be a horizontal challenge. Even in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Chile, which are best prepared to tackle the disease with cutting-edge treatments, internal disparities are enough to set off all alarms.
This article was produced by Latin America and the Caribbean Magazine Science Development Network
