Poor Lifestyle and Environmental Conditions Increase the Risk of Cancer

A healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk of cancer. Apart from that, early detection must also be further improved.

ALIF ICHWAN

Participants in a health walk carried posters and dressed up in funny costumes during a carnival. Commemorating World Cancer Day, PT Ferron Par Pharmaceuticals and the Indonesia Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC) held a Cancer Survivor's Health Walk Carnival in the motor-vehicle-free area of Jalan MH Thamrin, Jakarta, on Sunday (23/2/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Changing lifestyles related to diet and environment increase risk factors for cancer. Even though the exact cause of cancer has not been found, efforts to improve your lifestyle to be healthier reduce the risk of cancer. Apart from that, public awareness of early detection must be increased.

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the impacts of air pollution have threatened human health. Air pollution is also known to be the cause of 29% of lung cancer deaths.

"So we need to increase awareness of the risk of cancer, including education to improve healthy lifestyles, preventing exposure to air pollution, building environmentally friendly infrastructure, and regular early detection of cancer," he said at the 21st anniversary event Indonesian Cancer Information and Support Center Association (CISC), in Jakarta, Saturday (4/5/2024).

Also read: New Cancer Cases Among Young Adults Increase Drastically

Budi added that residents need to make collective efforts to maintain their personal health and the environment. Human health and environmental health need to be viewed as a unity in addressing public health.

Consultant hematology medical oncology at MRCCC Siloam Hospitals Semanggi, Jeffry Beta Tenggara, said that the risk factors for cancer are related to genetic, environmental and factors that are not yet known for certain. People who have a family history of cancer need to be more aware of the risk of cancer.

In addition to preventing other risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyles and environments, regular early detection awareness is recommended. Cancer has a higher survival rate when detected at an early stage. With early detection, cancer therapy is much more cost-effective and manageable.

"Ensure residents can prevent environmental risk factors. Lifestyles such as smoking, consuming alcohol, eating fast food, and lack of physical activity should be avoided. In addition to preventing cancer, a healthier lifestyle can also prevent other diseases such as heart and stroke," he said.

Also read: Obesity Increases Cancer Risk

Jeffry added that the lifestyle of the community that triggers obesity also needs to be aware of. People with obesity have a higher risk of developing cancer compared to those who do not have obesity.

Kompas

Specialist in internal medicine, consultant hematology, medical oncology at MRCCC Siloam Hospitals Semanggi, Jeffry Beta Tenggara,

This was shown in a study published in Lancet Public Health from the American Cancer Society. In the study, it was stated that over the last 20 years there has been a sharp increase in the incidence of cancer in those aged 25 to 49 years, especially those who are obese.

Community

The Head of the Radioterapi Department at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Indonesia-Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Soehartati A Gondhowiardjo, who is also an Advisor to the CISC stated that cancer patient communities and survivors play a role in supporting the success of cancer therapy for patients.

Make sure that residents are able to prevent environmental risk factors. Lifestyle habits such as smoking, consuming alcohol, consuming fast food, and not being physically active must be avoided.

The community not only supports physical health, but also supports the mental health of every patient. "What doctors or health workers do is meaningless without the support of the community," he said.

"We know that cancer treatment is full of challenges. With the help of a community acting as navigators, patients can be assisted in understanding cancer, from A to Z, so that they have motivation in their treatment," he said.

Also read: Community Support Plays an Important Role for Cancer Patients

Psychologist from the Faculty of Psychology at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Yohana Domikus, added that communities play an important role for cancer patients. Patients also usually feel more comfortable when accompanied by a community whose members are cancer survivors.

ALIF ICHWAN

Participants of the health walk carried unique posters and dressed up in creative costumes during the carnival. Commemorating World Cancer Day (HKS), PT Ferron Par Pharmaceuticals and Indonesia Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC) held a cancer survivor's health walk carnival event in the motor vehicle-free zone area, Jalan MH Thamrin, Jakarta, on Sunday (23/2/2020).

"Why do patients feel more comfortable with support groups? It's because of a sense of empathy and solidarity. These groups have no particular agenda but share similar experiences. The patient's psychological burden can be lighter with the support of the group," she said.