Moldova engaged in Anticancer Campaign

For the next two weeks (June 16 to 30) Moldova will be engaged in the Anticancer Campaign, during which doctors will hold a variety of activities aimed to promote healthy lifestyle habits and give tips on prevention and early detection of cancer, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Ministry of Health said in a press release the campaign comes amid an alarming rise in global cancer statistics. Cancer risks are associated with a bad environment, with smoking, alcohol abuse, irrational consumption of food, and with stress. Statistics show that in 2007 the number of Moldovans who were diagnosed with primary cancer rose to 7,484 from 7,361 in 2006 and 6,952 in 2005. In addition, the incidence rate of malignant tumors rose to 208.8 cases per 100,000 of population from 204.8 cases in 2006 and 192.9 cases in 2005. The most frequent type of cancer in 2007 was lung cancer, which accounted for 11 percent of the total, followed by skin cancer (with 10.8 percent) and breast cancer (with 10 percent). Most affected are the people older than 40 years. Key in cancer prevention is to avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, excessive and uncontrolled exposure to the sun, fat-rich and spicy food. Doctors also recommend to maintain a good sex hygiene and avoid prolonged and excessive stress. At the same time, doctors call attention to the signs that must alert one: enduring soreness or swelling, unusual secretion or bleeding, enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver, bone pain, pain from swallowing, excessive sweating, weight loss and poor appetite, annoying cough, abnormal changes in moles.