In what can be considered as a major move to reduce the number of cancer deaths in UK, the government has set aside both funds and an effective program which aims at reducing not only cancer deaths but also the risk of getting it. The government of UK has finally woken up to the fact that the country sees more number of cancer deaths than most of Europe or the US. To make sure that this alarming trend does not continue and grow, the people at the helm have decided to take a few hard decisions which could go a long way in solving the problem.
While there are a few cases of cancer that have really no reason beyond being genetically present, most cases of cancer can be avoided by a simple change in lifestyle. To ensure that this change comes, especially with the teens of the country, the government is contemplating banning cigarette vending machines and use of sunbeds for those under the age of 18.
There are 230,000 new cases of cancer a year in England alone and it causes a quarter of all deaths. Even the survival rates in UK are very poor compared to the remainder of the Western world. Health Secretary Alan Johnson and the government’s cancer Professor Mike Richards will set out the five-year strategy on Monday which will make sure or at least attempt to make sure that no cancer patient is made to wait for more than a month to receive treatment. It is believed that most cancer deaths are due to lack of proper radiotherapy before it gets too late. Hence the concerned are also advocating that the government need to spend more on improving radiotherapy than on expensive drugs that ‘might’ treat cancer.
Smoking has been identified as the single largest contributor to the problem of cancer and in this regard the government wants to ban all cigarette vending machines as they give an easy outlet for kids to get a smoke. They are also contemplating a ban of use of sunbeds for those under 18 as they have a high risk of skin cancer. This should help reduce their exposure to harmful UV light. But at the end of the day, despite all the measure and the cash rolled in to the program, it simply comes down to the responsibility of each individual. If they can maintain a healthy lifestyle, then it is much easier to weed out this fatal killer to a very large extent.
Image