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 INTRODUCTION
The cancer represents one of the principal causes of death in our century. Between the principal investigation lines in the struggle against the cancer, one of the most important is the one that goes towards his prevention. For it it is fundamental to identify the factors that take part in the origin of the cancer and his later development.
In this sense, it has been indicated that the endogenous factors - of the proper person - would be responsible for 20 % of the cancers, while in 80 % remaining exogenous or environmental, such factors might intervene like:
- Tobacco (responsible for 20-30 % for the tumors in the man and of 5-10 % of tumors in the woman)
- Environmental and labor factors, virus, radiations, etc, that as a whole would explain the origin of 20 to 30 % of the cancers.
It still would remain 30-35 % of tumors of unknown cause, and in this group there is big part of the most frequent cancers, as that of colon - rectum, breast or prostate. Although one has suspected in multiple factors - dietetic, hormonal, etc. - concrete evidences do not exist and the studies usually show contradictory results.
THE PROCESS OF CARCINOGÉNESIS
The cancer is not only one illness, but a group of any more than 200 different illnesses in which an abnormal growth of the cells takes place, until called tumors turn into textiles masses or neoplasias custom, with lengths. This is a process periods of time between the exhibition to carcinogenic factors and the development of a tumor.
The carcinogénesis process begins when the external agents produce irreversible alterations in the genetic information (mutations of the ADN of the cells), turning normal genes of a person into the called oncogenes, capable of inducing a cancer (tumor beginning). Later, certain environmental factors do that these cells, with already shaken genetic information, develop and multiply (tumor promotion), and that gradually a cancer is established and is spread (metástasis) (tumor progression).
CARCINOGENIC FACTORS
The finished carcinogens are substances or other factors capable of operating for themselves in all the phases of the carcinogénesis (for example, the tobacco in the cancer of larynx or of lung). The called co-carcinogens are factors unable themselves to generate cancer, but that yes they can do it in conjunction with other factors (for example, the radon or the asbestos in conjunction with the tobacco in the genesis of the cancer of lung). Also there exist anticarcinogens, which are substances that can inhibit the carcinogénesis.
After fifty years of epidemiologic studies, there exists a long series of well-known or suspected carcinogens, as well as different whose role is much more controversial, like the radiation not ionizante or certain dietetic factors. Before the absence of concrete evidences with the above mentioned, the effort of the institutions and the persons in charge of health is going towards the prevention of any deliberate and irresponsible exhibition to the well-known carcinogens. In this sense, it is possible that in the following decades we could appreciate the effect of the campaigns anti-tobacco on the incidence of certain types of cancer.
THE EUROPEAN DECALOGUE OF THE CANCER
1. To eliminate the nicotinism.
2. To avoid the alcohol.
3. To moderate the solar exhibitions.
4. To avoid the contact with the recognized chemical carcinogens.
5. Diet rich in fruits, vegetables and cereals with fibre.
6. To consume food with little fat, and to avoid the excess weights.
7. To consult the doctor before the appearance of bundles, changes in spots, or abnormal scars.
8. To consult the doctor before the persistence of hoarseness, cough, changes in the intestinal rhythm, loss of
I weigh unjustified.
9. To do to him regularly a smear vaginal (cytology).
10. Periodic Mamografías from 50 years.
TO SEE ALSO
WHAT DOCTOR CAN TREAT ME?
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INTRODUCTION 
