Due to April 1-7 National Cancer Week, according to the information obtained from the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health, cancer ranks second among the deaths with known causes in the world and in Turkey, after cardiovascular diseases.

According to the data of the World Health Organization, 19.2 million new cancer cases were detected on a global basis in 2020, while 9.9 million deaths were recorded due to the disease. It is estimated that one out of every 5 people around the world will be diagnosed with cancer until the age of 75, and one out of every 10 people will die from cancer.

Among the cancer types, lung, breast and colorectal cancers take the first place. It is predicted that the number of cancer patients will increase in the coming years due to the increase in the world population, aging and exposure to risk factors that may lead to cancer for a longer period of time.

90 percent of cancers develop due to environmental factors

90 percent of cancers develop due to environmental factors and 10 percent due to genetic factors.

The main environmental risk factors for cancer include the use of tobacco and tobacco products, alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese, and exposure to infections. It is stated that with the elimination of these, 30-50 percent of cancers can be prevented.

There are 336 cancer screening centers

In addition to avoiding risk factors in cancer, screening and early diagnosis are among the most important prevention strategies.

Cancer screenings carried out in primary health care institutions including Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Education Centers (KETEM), Healthy Life Centers (SHM), Family Health Centers (ASM) and mobile cancer screening tools continued uninterruptedly during the epidemic period.

While the number of screening centers was 336 by the end of 2021, 42 of these centers were mobile cancer screening vehicles.

Cancer screenings are free

Within the scope of the national cancer screening program, 1 million cancer screenings were performed in the first three months of 2021, while cancer screening rates increased to 1.5 million in the same period of this year.

In Turkey, women aged 40-69 are screened for breast cancer every 2 years, women aged 30-65 are screened for cervical cancer every 5 years, men and women aged 50-70 are screened for colon cancer every 2 years, free of charge.

Persons whose results are positive or suspicious after screening are referred to diagnostic centers for further examinations. Diagnosis and treatment services are carried out by secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions.

Source: saglikiletisimplatformu