Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

April 04, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Rise in Cancer Projected"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (04/04/03) P. A2; Reaney, Patricia

The International Agency for Research on Cancer's World Cancer Report indicates that by 2020, global rates of cancer could increase by 50 percent to 15 million new cases annually.  However, of that number, third can be cured and a third could be prevented through lifestyle changes and curbing infections.  The report asks for efforts to improve diet and physical activity, reduce smoking, and prevent infections.  Eating more fruits and vegetables and preventing infections like hepatitis B and C will help to reduce the number of cancers, and national screening programs have also had extremely good results.  In the poorer nations, as much as 23 percent of cancers are caused by infections, which could make vaccinations a tool in preventing them.  In high-incidence nations, vaccination has been proven to prevent stomach cancer, for example, and the report noted that researchers hope to have a vaccine against cervical cancer within a few years.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.