Dr Karthik K S

Women are the backbone of a family and society. Cancer morbidity and mortality will affect the family, more so when a mother is involved. Women are affected by all kinds of cancers. Common cancers affecting only women are breast, endometrium, and ovary. Obesity is associated with higher incidence of cancers including colorectal, postmenopausal breast cancer, Adenocarcinoma of esophagus, renal cell cancer (Kidney). Pancreas, Liver and Gallbladder. Morbid obesity can increase chances of endometrial cancer by about 7 times and Esophageal cancer by 5 times. At least 10 % of cancers can be attributed to obesity. Obesity can also increase the mortality after cancer.

Mechanism: Excess fat can increase inflammation. Fat also increases insulin and insulin like growth factors. Factors like this and many more can drive tumour growth and metastasis (spread to other organs). Obesity also creates an immunosuppressive environment in the body thus fostering cancer. Hormonal Changes like higher estrogen arising from the fat increases the chances of breast and endometrial cancers by several folds. Inactivity and sedentary behavior can promote obesity, inflammation and hormonal imbalances and thus triggering cancer in the body.

Weight Loss: Few trials have shown significant benefit of weight loss in avoiding cancer. Bariatric surgery has also seen to be advantageous, and can reduce a few cancers by half. Postmenopausal women who reduced weight with intent could reduce the cancer incidence of Breast, Uterus and colorectum. It is seen that even 5 to 10% of weight lost makes a significant difference.

Diet: Diet to restrict calories and in turn reduce weight can help in preventing cancer. Lifelong habits matter more than rapid diet. Several diets have been explained, but it all depends on the local and cultural practices.

Activity: Moderate exercise of even a few hours per week and a few thousand steps per day can help in preventing cancers. About 7500 steps every day and 3-4 hours of moderate exercise can prevent and decrease chances of a few cancers by up to 25%.

To summarize, in a developing world especially like in India, middle and affluent classes are becoming calorie surplus and in turn lead to increased incidence of cancers. When we look out for the options and possibilities for decreasing cancers, lifestyle modifications become a very productive and effective way of preventing cancers.

(Dr Karthik K S is a consultant in Surgical Oncology at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru)