The World Health Organization expects a 70% increase in cancer cases worldwide. Could that have anything to do with toxic substances in our food supply, water, and environment?

1. From the Guardian:Worldwide cancer cases expected to soar by 70% over next 20 years

“The latest World Cancer Report says it is implausible to think we can treat our way out of the disease and that the focus must now be on preventing new cases. Even the richest countries will struggle to cope with the spiralling costs of treatment and care for patients, and the lower income countries, where numbers are expected to be highest, are ill-equipped for the burden to come.

The incidence of cancer globally has increased in just four years from 12.7m in 2008 to 14.1m new cases in 2012, when there were 8.2m deaths. Over the next 20 years, it is expected to hit 25m a year – a 70% increase.” continue reading

2. From CNN: WHO: Imminent global cancer ‘disaster’ reflects aging, lifestyle factors

“Cancer cases are expected to surge 57% worldwide in the next 20 years, an imminent “human disaster” that will require a renewed focus on prevention to combat, according to the World Health Organization.

The World Cancer Report, produced by the WHO’s specialized cancer agency and released on World Cancer Day, predicts new cancer cases will rise from an estimated 14 million annually in 2012 to 22 million within two decades. Over the same period, cancer deaths are predicted to rise from 8.2 million a year to 13 million.” See full report

3. From The Daily Mail: Cancer ISN’T all in your genes: Up to 90% of cases ‘could be wiped out by avoiding triggers caused by our unhealthy lifestyles’

“Dr. Yusuf Hannun, of Stony Brook University in the US, said that while luck plays a role, factors in the world around us are much more important.  These include diet, alcohol, cigarettes, sunburn, some viruses, pollution and likely other factors that have yet to be identified. Read full article

4. From Scientific American: How Many Cancers are Caused by the (Factors in the) Environment?

“They say the American Cancer’s Society’s statement sounds a bit like a principle espoused by industry groups – don’t act without absolute proof of harm. Many environmental epidemiologists are in favor of moving toward the precautionary principle – reducing people’s exposure to environmental pollutants even if there is uncertainty about the risks.” Read full article

5. From Beyond Pesticides: Pesticide-Induced Diseases: Cancer

Bladder Cancer ● Bone Cancer ● Brain Cancer ● Cervical Cancer ● Colorecatal Cancer ● Eye Cancer ● Gallbladder Cancer ● Kidney/Renal Cancer ● Larynx Cancer ● Leukemia ● Lip Cancer ● Liver/Hepatic Cancer ● Lung Cancer ●Lymphoma ● Melanoma ● Mouth Cancer ● Multiple Myeloma ●Neuroblastoma ● Oesophageal Cancer ● Ovarian Cancer ● Pancreatic Cancer● Prostate Cancer ● Soft Tissue Sarcoma ● Stomach Cancer ● Sinonasal Cancer ● Testicular Cancer ● Thyroid Cancer ● Uteran Cancer

“The link between pesticides and cancer has long been a concern. While agriculture has traditionally been tied to pesticide-related illnesses, 19 of 30 commonly usedlawn pesticides and 28 of 40 commonly used school pesticides are linked to cancer. Even with the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer in recent years, a report released May 6, 2010 by the President’s Cancer Panel finds that the true burden of environmentally-induced cancer is greatly underestimated. The Panel’s report,Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now, concludes that while environmental exposure is not a new front on the war on cancer, the grievous harm from carcinogenic chemical use has not been addressed adequately by the nation’s cancer program.” Go to website for further information

6. From the WHO (The World Health Organization): Cancer Fact Sheet

---

Key facts

• Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012 (1).
• The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades.
• Among men, the 5 most common sites of cancer diagnosed in 2012 were lung, prostate, colorectum, stomach, and liver cancer.
• Among women the 5 most common sites diagnosed were breast, colorectum, lung, cervix, and stomach cancer.
• Around one third of cancer deaths are due to the 5 leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use.
• Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing around 20% of global cancer deaths and around 70% of global lung cancer deaths.
• Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries (2).
• More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. These regions account for 70% of the world’s cancer deaths (1).
• It is expected that annual cancer cases will rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 within the next 2 decades (1).

---

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs, the latter process is referred to as metastasizing. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.

The problem

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 (1). The most common causes of cancer death are cancers of:

• lung (1.59 million deaths)
• liver (745 000 deaths)
• stomach (723 000 deaths)
• colorectal (694 000 deaths)
• breast (521 000 deaths)
• oesophageal cancer (400 000 deaths) (1).

What causes cancer?

Cancer arises from one single cell. The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour cell is a multistage process, typically a progression from a pre-cancerous lesion to malignant tumours. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and 3 categories of external agents, including:

• physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
• chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and
• biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.

continue to fact sheet

7.  From CNN: Report: Pesticide exposure linked to childhood cancer and lower IQ

“Pesticide use in homes may increase the risk of children developing leukemia or lymphoma, a new report suggests.

Researchers combined data from 16 earlier studies that had compared pesticide exposure between children who developed leukemia or lymphoma and those who did not. These studies estimated the level of insecticides and herbicides both inside the home and in the yard and outdoor residential space.

The researchers concluded that children who had been exposed to insecticides indoors were 47% more likely to have leukemia and 43% more likely to have lymphoma. Although leukemia and lymphoma are rare — leukemia affects about five in 100,000 children in the United States — they are among the common types of childhood cancers.”  see full article 

8. From PANNA (Pesticide Action Network North America)

“In the U.S., one of every two men and one of every three women are likely to develop cancer over the course of a lifetime — and pesticides are part of the reason why.

It’s unclear exactly how much of this country’s cancer results from exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, but according to the 2009 report from the prestigious President’s Cancer Panel, the linkage has been significantly underestimated — and decisive action is long overdue.”

An excerpt from the Panel’s letter to President Obama:

The American people — even before they are born — are bombarded continually with myriad combinations of these dangerous exposures. The Panel urges you most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our Nation’s productivity, and devastate American lives. Click here to view full report

9. From Reveal News 

Here’s how California could be missing pesticides’ cancer risk

“California’s pesticide police could be missing a serious health concern for residents and farmworkers by failing to monitor what happens when pesticides get mixed together.” Read full article

The dangers of inert ingredients and combining pesticides coming tomorrow.

As shocking as it may be, that is the green reality!