The specialist Rui Tato Marinho warned this Monday about the increase in cases of breast, colorectal and liver cancer among the youngest, pointing out obesity and excessive consumption of alcohol and red meat as causes of this problem.
“You Cancers have increased in younger people.But our main concern is Increase in breast cancer in women aged 30 and 40.and the Colon and large intestine cancer also in people aged 40 years“said the director of the National Viral Hepatitis Program.
According to the gastroenterologist, the Liver cancer has also shown an increase among the younger populationleading to a call for early detection.
Currently, it is recommended that Portuguese people aged 50 or over take the colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy), but specialists are beginning to We recommend that it be done at age 45.said Tato Marinho, who was speaking to Lusa regarding the conference “Detection and Prevention: Innovating in Public Health”, organized by the National Association of Pharmacies, which will take place on Tuesday, in Lisbon.
The specialist points to several explanations for the increase in this cancer at younger ages, such as Obesity, “a very serious public health problem.”
“Despite several campaigns, the population is increasingly obese,” he said, warning that obesity “increases the risk of cancer not only of the colon, liver, but also of the breast.”
HE Excessive alcohol consumption and diet rich in red meat. They have also been identified as risk factors.
“We are one of the countries in the world where the most alcohol is consumed per capita and we started consuming it very early. This is also a risk factor for breast and colon cancer,” warned the clinical director of the Santa María Local Health Unit, in Lisbon.
He emphasized that many young people are not aware of the risks associated with their behaviors and lifestyles, so awareness campaigns should begin in primary education.
He also defended Activities at school that promote physical exercise and healthy eating.creating a foundation for a lifestyle that prevents future diseases.
“A young person who is overweight, who smokes, drinks, will live 20 or 30 years less, because the risk of suffering from lung, liver or colon cancer is greater”he explained.
Toward Oncological diseases are the second cause of mortality in Portugal.where more than 7,000 cases of colorectal cancer are detected every year, registering a mortality rate higher than the EU average, around 9,000 new cases of breast cancer and around 1,400 new cases of liver cancer.
Asked about the situation of hepatitis B and C, the specialist stated that they are “more or less controlled”, highlighting that Portugal is one of the best countries in the world in applying the hepatitis B vaccine when the baby is born.
“Only half of the countries in the world do this, which is one of the most effective measures to prevent hepatitis B,” he praised.
For hepatitis C, treatment is free in Portugal and cures almost 100% of cases, he stressed, highlighting, however, the importance of carrying out more and more tests to detect the disease early.
“We have strong immigration (…). Not everyone had access, like us, to the best healthcare. “They are here to survive, to help Portugal and we really need them, but many come from countries where the hepatitis B vaccine is not given at birth or hepatitis C treatment is not available,” he said.
Therefore, concluded Tato Marinho, “it is an unfinished story” and hence the need for more and more tests and “pharmacies that offer very united healthcare, with informed people, can be a fantastic tool to detect more people.” in screenings.
Source: Observadora
