Cancer Headlines Villagers in Funing County, Jiangsu Province, are involved in a battle with a chemical factory they claim is responsible for about 100 cancer deaths. They also have accused government officials of ignoring their requests for action. A total of 99 residents in two villages close to the factory died of cancer since 2000, the China Economic Times newspaper reported yesterday. About 8,000 people live in the two villages. Among the deaths, nearly half were caused by esophagus cancers, 18 were due to lung cancer and 14 from liver cancer, the report said. Many of those who died were between 50 and 60 years old. At least 20 others are battling different types of cancer. The number of cancer cases increased in recent years after the chemical factory started operation in July 2000, the report said, citing villagers. While farmers blame the increase on sewage discharged by Julong Chemical Company in Yangji Town, the county's environment bureau said the pollution was from the Huaihe River, which cuts through Funing in the lower reaches. Rampant illegal paper manufacturers in the middle reaches of the river were a major polluter several years ago. But cancer cases haven't increased significantly in nearby villages, according to the report. Funing officials were skeptical of the number of deaths provided by villagers. "At least six of the 99 died in 1998, and many people still alive were counted as dead," said Zhang Kelei, Yangji's deputy Party chief. Zhang said police would check the numbers. The factory now pays about 2 million yuan in annual taxes, accounting for 67 percent of the county's total tax revenue. Villager Liu Wenda said more than 1,500 kilograms of fish he raised were killed by chemicals seeping into his fish pond. The pond was about 500 meters from the factory. Sun Jipo, the factory's vice general manager, said too much algae reduced oxygen in the pond, which led to the fish deaths. Many villagers said they feel itchy after taking baths at a public bathhouse not far from the factory. The bathhouse drains water from a roadside river. Villagers complained repeatedly to the county environment bureau and other departments in recent years. The factory, meanwhile, is planning to increase output, the report said. After receiving reports from villagers, local and provincial TV crews visited the area. They haven't broadcast any reports yet.
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Colon Cancer
Who Is More Prone To Develop Colorectal Cancer?The exact reason why colon cancer develops in some persons and not in others is not clear. The incidence of colon cancer is quite varied among different countries and within different ethnic groups inside the same country. Industrialized countries like United States, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia and Japan have a much higher incidence of colorectal cancer compared to the less industrialized parts of the world like Asia, Africa, and South America. Colorectal cancer represent over 9 percent of all cancers in men and about 10 percent of all cancers in women world-wide. In industrialized countries the incidence of colorectal cancer can be as high as 12 to 14 of all cancers, and in non-industrialized countries much lower rates of about 7 to 8 percent of all cancers diagnosed may be colorectal cancer. Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer diagnosed in the United States. Each year over 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer and over 50 percent of these patients will die from colorectal cancer. Colon cancer incidence is not much different between males and females, however colon cancer is slightly more prevalent in women compared to men (ratio of 1.2:1) but the rectal cancer is more common in males (ratio of 1.7:1). Even though we do not know the exact cause of development of colorectal cancer, scientists have recognized several factors that can increase the risk of development of colorectal cancer. A risk factor for a disease is any condition that makes a person more likely to develop that diseases. Some of the risk factors like dietary factors are modifiable by the person involved while some other factors like age are un-modifiable. These risk factors may act in combination, and this combination of risk factors may be associated with cumulative increase in the risk of development of colorectal cancer. The simple presence of one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that someone will develop colorectal cancer. On the other hand absence of all risk factors does not mean that an individual will not develop colorectal cancer, but generally more risk factors you have higher is the chance of developing colorectal cancer. Environmental factors also may be playing a role in the development of colorectal cancer. People who migrate from areas of low risk to areas of the world with higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, they tend to acquire the risk of the country to which they are migrating. This finding suggests the presence of environmental factors causing higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Changes in dietary factors associated with migration may also be contributing to this increase in risk associated with migration from low risk areas to higher risk areas. Risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer include the following:
Persons who have high risk of colorectal cancer may undergo screening for colorectal cancer with colonoscopy once every 2 to 3 years. Screening colonoscopy is recommended for every one who is 50 years or older. If someone has a higher than average risk of developing colorectal cancer, the screening may be initiated earlier than 50 years. The author is the webmaster for http://medicineworld.org which features many useful articles and news items related to cancer. You can find more information on colon cancer, colon cancer news, and colon cancer treatment at author's colon cancer page of the website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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