The Deputy Director General of Health said this Friday that the roughly 60,000 new cases of cancer that occur each year in Portugal correspond to about two-thirds of births, urging the population to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Rui Portugal also argued that it is important to ensure a care network that guarantees equal access and differentiated teams throughout the country in the field of cancer.
At the opening ceremony of the World Cancer Day celebration, organized by the Directorate General of Health (DGS) through the National Cancer Programme, which takes place in Infarmed (Lisbon), Rui Portugal said that estimates point to about 60,000 new cases of cancer every year, which corresponds to the population of the municipalities of Portimão or Figueira da Foz.
On the other hand, he noted, about 90,000 children are born in Portugal, which means that the number of new cases of cancer corresponds to about two-thirds of those born in the country every year.
“The long life expectancy of the Portuguese, exposure to carcinogens and a less healthy lifestyle justify a progressive rise in new cases,” said Rui Portugal, arguing that “cancer knowledge, monitoring and intervention is a public health priority in Portugal.” .
The Deputy Director General of Health also stressed that cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Portugal and is responsible for more than 100,000 years of potentially lost lives.
“Every year about 28,000 people die, which is equivalent to [à população] from the municipality of Santiago do Casem, Anadia or Tavira,” he explained, noting that they disappeared every year.
According to Rui Portugal, the years of life potentially lost due to cancer are eight times those associated with HIV infection, and one and a half times those associated with cardiovascular disease.
“Naturally, these figures, this information should worry the Portuguese public and the health authorities,” he stressed.
On the other hand, he added: “We should be proud” of the five-year survival rates for prostate, breast, cervical and even cervical cancer, which “were better than the European Union average in recent reports.” “.
Rui Portugal also mentioned existing concerns about “the inequalities that exist in society, whether due to geographic determinants or due to specific determinants of people, families and communities that naturally need to be controlled.”
“If exposure in a work environment can and should have a decisive and rapid intervention, others require more knowledge and have greater difficulty in achieving outcomes and improving health,” he said, defending that major public health policies to fight cancer should focus on on its determinants such as tobacco, alcohol use, obesity.
According to Rui Portugal, it is also necessary to encourage eating habits and physical activity in all age groups.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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