What are the main causes of cancer in South Africa?

 

 

Smoking:

Worldwide, the most common cause of cancer is smoking. About one out of every three cancer cases is owed to smoking. South Africa has progressive anti-tobacco legislation, but one of the areas activists say can improve is the regulation of smoking at home. Many advocates believe it should legally be possible to ban smoking at home, particularly in cases where domestic workers are employed. Cleaners and domestic helpers should have the right to smoke-free working environments, they say. Smoking at home is also extremely harmful to children. In the city of Belmont, California, smoking inside flats and townhouses has been declared illegal to protect neighbours.

Viruses:

Viruses such as hepatitis B, which causes liver cancer, and HPV, which leads to cervical cancer – cause about 20% of cancers. Cervical cancer claims the lives of more than 3400 South African women a year. Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to develop cervical cancer. Unequal access to preventive services such as annual pap smears plays a significant part in this. An HPV vaccine, of which three shots are needed, is available in the private sector. It significantly reduces the risk of women getting cervical cancer. In 1996 the government was the first in Africa to fund the vaccination of every child for hepatitis B and this is likely to lead to the eradication of liver cancer within the next 20 years in the country.

Chemicals:

Chemicals are responsible for about 15% of cancer cases. Man-made chemicals such Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used to make certain types of plastic, are strongly linked to breast cancer. Last year, the government banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. Certain types of cling wrap also contain plasticisers that can cause cancer.

Water:

Water particularly in Tlokwe municipality (Potchefstroom), has been found to contain radioactive elements such as uranium. Excessive exposure to uranium is associated with certain types of cancer, including leukaemia.

Obesity:

Being excessively overweight is strongly associated with the development of cancer. About 15% of cancer cases are linked to it. Obesity often leads to so-called systemic inflammation, when white blood cells invade fat tissue, which is the body’s way of reacting to too many fat cells. Systemic inflammation is one of the preconditions for the development of cancer; it is basically a breeding ground for it.

Alcohol:

About 3% of European cancer cases in women are associated with alcohol compared with 10% in men in countries such as Germany. Drinking moderately – one to two alcohol units a day – is fine. More than that brings trouble. Binge drinking is more dangerous because the sudden spikes of alcohol in your body often cause more damage than constant exposure.

Sunlight:

Skin cancers are generally considered trivial, except when melanomas, which are characterised by darker skin pigment, are involved. Melanoma causes about 5% of cancer cases. Too much sun exposure causes normal skin cells to become abnormal. These abnormal cells quickly grow out of control and attack the tissue around them. CANSA commissioned a study, which revealed that most locally manufactured sun-block creams or oils contain amounts of ultraviolet-A filter too low for adequate protection against the sun. The sun protection factor on sun block is an indication of ultraviolet-B protection. The chemicals needed for ultraviolet-A protection are significantly more costly and therefore often not included in high quantities.