Background information and statistics of cancer

Cancer and its Causes

Cancer is defined as the fast proliferation of bodily cells. The body’s rapidly developing cells divide uncontrollably. The injured cells eventually form a tumor, which is a substantial accumulation of aberrant tissue mass. Several people die as a result of the sickness in various parts of the world. There are various types of cancer. Each type has a distinct mode of growth and spread within the body. Despite innumerable incidences of cancer and its progressive effects, medical specialists still do not know what causes cancer. Environmental and internal variables are equally implicated in cancer risk factors (Brown et al. 2006). The environmental risk factors include the use of chemicals, exposure to radiation and presence of various viruses in the body. On the other hand, the internal factors include safe conditions, a mutation that is inherited and the presence of cancerous hormones in the body. The occurrence of cancer increases with age. Fewer people contract cancer before the age of thirty years. The reason being, it takes more time to acquire the abnormalities, which produce cancer cells. Again, the chances of exposure to cancer risk factors also increase with age. Globally, the highest cases of cancer are in Demark. In which 338 people per 100, 000 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2012. In the same year, nine other countries recorded 300 people per 100, 000 had this deadly disease. The nine countries include France, Australia, United States of America, Korea, United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Norway and Netherlands (Edge and Compton, 2010). Cancer occurs because of nutrition and substance abuse as well as health care issues.

Impact of Cancer in the United Kingdom

The cases of cancer in the United Kingdom is a significant impact on the country. According to statistics, in 2014, there were 356,860 cases of cancer in the nation. At the same time over 163, 444 deaths existed because of cancer. Out of the total number of people affected by cancer, 55,222 diagnoses of breast cancer also exists. Nevertheless, 11,433 people have died because of breast cancer. Seventy-eight percent have emerged survivors out of this deadly disease. Consequently, 46,690 people are patients of prostate cancer (Jemal et al. 2011). The number of deaths is much fewer as compared to that recorded in breast cancer. Only 11, 287 people have died out of prostate cancer.

Factors Affecting Health and Health Care Delivery

Several factors affect health as well as the rate of health care delivery of cancer in most global areas. Some of the factors are related to culture and tradition while others are concerned with economics, politics and the social attitude of a nation. The idea of health care delivery aims at making the life of the patients comfortable. Other religions have different beliefs concerning diseases. Some do not visit the doctor when they are sick; they believe that their supernatural being will automatically cure them. Sick people need to have a balanced diet to render them a quick recovery. However, during the fasting period for Muslims, sick people also tend to fast. It hinders the rate of health care delivery, as it will take them more time to recovery to their normal state (Brown et al. 2006). Most of the medicines are made of animal proteins which some of the cultures does not allow for their meals. In cases, where a cancer patient is a Muslim, he will not use medicine made of pork. Consequently, the economic status of a patient also affects health and health care delivery. Treatment of cancer is very expensive. In so doing, patients who have a stable economic status are the only people who can undergo the treatment process. In so doing, it is evident that most individuals who die of this deadly disease lack the amount of money required for treatment. Therefore, economic status affects the heath and health care delivery of cancer globally. People in the political platform tend to get favors when it comes to health care, as they are considered superior (Edge and Compton, 2010). They get the best treatment in comparison to other citizens.

Influence of Altruistic Organizations on Cancer

Not all of the diagnosis, advice, and treatment offered to cancer patients come from medical related organizations. Some of the services are provided by charitable organizations who are interested in helping the cancer patients. Most of these organizations are made up of people who have an experience with cancer and do not want to save people from the deadly disease. Some of these philanthropic organizations are inclusive of Peace Corps, project hope, religious and non-religious missions. In the present days, Non-governmental Organizations have joined in the campaign of reducing cases of cancer globally. The Danish Cancer Society is one of these agencies based in Denmark. The organizations aim at offering profession and political advice to cancer patients, Monitor and safeguard the rights of cancer patients when it comes to diagnosis and treatment as well as finding out the obstacles and problems that affect the cancer patients (Jemal et al. 2011). These charitable organizations influence the rate of cancer globally. Most of these agencies source for funds to hold forums to diagnose people with cancer and provide the affected individuals with the best procedures for treatment. Moreover, they advice the affected patients to ensure that they grow stronger to accept the situation and carry on with the treatment process. These philanthropic organizations have helped in reducing the number of people who are affected by cancer in Denmark and most of the highly affected areas. Globally, there is need to support such organizations to reduce major cases of cancer in the world.

Interventions to Address Health Care Issues of Cancer

For addressing, the medical issues related to cancer, both conventional and unconventional interventions have a clear help. The interventions assist in reducing the rate and occurrence of cancer. The interventions are often cost-effective as compared to the cost of treating cancer. Immunization against infectious agents that cause certain cancers is one of the most preferred intervention measures. The use of HBV vaccine indicates widespread use in the prevention of liver cancer. It protects against both acute and chronic infection. Recent data show a reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, the use of HPV vaccine indicates a decrease in the cause of cervical cancer in a large population globally (Jemal et al. 2011). Furthermore, tobacco and alcohol control program is another intervention measure implemented by most cancer-affected nations. Tobacco and alcohol are key causative agents of lung cancer and well as other cancer-related to the respiratory system. The program includes bans on smoldering in communal zones such as cafeterias and areas of work. The program also includes regulating alcohol and tobacco promotions and advertising through various channels. The program aims at reducing the number of adolescents and children taking alcohol and tobacco; it will help in having a great nation in future free of cancer. Dietary interventions implemented in various areas help in reducing the rate of cancer. Consumption of food with Aspergillus flavus is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (Brown et al. 2006). Instead, the intervention aims at consuming chlorophyll supplements, which instead reduces the effects of Aflatoxin, cancer causative agent.

Local Health Care Decisions and Practices

The healthcare system in the form of practices and decisions of United Kingdom differs from that from other nations like England, Wales, and Scotland. In England and Wales, the National Institute and Clinical Excellence is in charge of setting guidelines for the medical practitioners indicating how various conditions need treatment. On the other hand, in Scotland, NHS boards are in charge of offering medical advice to the practitioners. As from January 2007, NHS have reduced the cost of treatment and the ambulance fees for the nation to enable ease of therapy even to poor people. In Scotland and Wales, there are no parking charges in the hospitals. Nevertheless, in England, parking charges are still viable. Most of the prescribed drugs in the United Kingdom have charges. The charges are about the prevalence, incidence, mortality as well as the morbidity level. The process offers some difficulties in the comparison of medication use. In Scotland and Wales, there are no charges for prescription drugs. In England, the prescription charge stands at 8.20 USD per item. In most of these countries, the private sector in the public healthcare helps in providing better medical services to the patients (Edge and Compton, 2010). Most of the organizations support in funding and providing devolution healthcare to help them reach many people. The performance of NHS in Wales has a little impact as compared to the impact in the United Kingdom.

Evidence-Based Interventions for Disease Prevention

The study of Framingham Heart Study and the study on smoking in the British doctor have helped in the process of understanding how lifestyle affects various NCDs. The studies are evidence based in British. They are clear indicators of proper, effective, efficient and profitable disease prevention measures. The study that was carried out in British in 2007. Indicate that the idea of smoking from an early adult life is responsible for tripling the age-specific mortality. The excess mortality related to smoking involves neoplastic and respiratory diseases, which comes because of smoking. Furthermore, the use of Framingham study helps in early identification of major CVD as a risk factor (Edge and Compton, 2010). Some of the risk factors include high blood pressure, age, gender and the level of cholesterol accumulation. It is essential to put evidence into practice to have a great and better understanding of medical situations. Extended release of morphine, nebulized opioids, and use of gas moisture, cognitive behavior therapy and midazolam makes up the best evidence-based interventions implemented in recent studies. It is essential and crucial to involve and include the use of evidence-based interventions in the process of dealing with cancer, risk factors, and their effects. It offers a better understanding of cancer and how best to reduce the rate of cancer globally. It also provides the nurse and medical practitioners with evidence for the practices as well as identifying gaps in the literature.

References

Brown, M. L., Goldie, S. J., Draisma, G., Harford, J., & Lipscomb, J. (2006). Chapter 29. Health service interventions for cancer control in developing countries. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. Jamison DT, Bremen JG, Measham AR, et al., ed. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11756/

Edge, S. B., & Compton, C. C. (2010). The American Joint Committee on Cancer: the 7th edition of the AJCC cancer staging manual and the future of TNM. Annals of surgical oncology, 17(6), 1471-1474. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1245/s10434-010-0985-4

Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E., & Forman, D. (2011). Global cancer statistics. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 61(2), 69-90 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21262/full