If one has to contract cancer, Israel is a better country than most to live in. Israeli’s mortality rates from all kinds of malignancies are below the world average, thanks to early diagnosis and advanced innovative treatment from its medical centers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). 

About 30,000 cancer patients are diagnosed each year in Israel, and about 11,000 die from the disease each year. But we can do even better, as half of all cancer cases are preventable, and more than a quarter of cases can be prevented by not smoking and not drinking alcoholic beverages.

World Cancer Day is marked on February 4th every year with the aim of uniting the world around the promotion of the fight against cancer in a positive and stimulating way to action. The goal is to save millions of lives by raising awareness and improving behaviors that reduce the risk of disease, while calling for action by governments and individuals around the world.

Data from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) show that between 30% and 50% of cancer cases can be prevented. By investing resources and implementing strategies in the field of prevention, early detection and treatment, some 3.7 million people worldwide can be saved from dying from cancer each year; today, about 10 million people around the globe die from cancer in an average year. 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular disease, and the leading cause in Israel. The total annual economic cost of treating cancer worldwide is currently estimated at $167 billion, but an $11.4 billion investment in cancer prevention strategies will result in $100 billion in cancer-treatment costs.

Moshe Bar-Haim, director-general of the Israel Cancer Association (ICA), said that “many studies point to risk factors that raise cancer rates.  It can be accomplished by maintaining a healthful lifestyle – not smoking and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke, proper nutrition, exercise, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding alcohol. To this must be added smart behavior in the sun and avoiding exposure to carcinogens.”

ICA chairman Prof. Avraham Kuten added that data from recent years show that Israel is ranked lower among OECD countries in cancer mortality rates. This is probably due to the fact that patients in Israel are diagnosed early with common cancers, thanks to national screening programs initiated by the ICA, and that they receive optimal treatment at a high level from its medical system.

The national mammography project was initiated and assisted in its implementation by the ICA has since been operated in conjunction with the Health Ministry and in cooperation with all HMOs.

Since it began, about 250,000 mammography tests have been performed on the mobile. The mobile crew consists of women only. The test is free of charge and is provided as part of the health basket for women of the appropriate, and its performance is supervised by the ministry’s quality control program, 

As early as 2011, the gaps between Jewish and Arab women were reduced, and in the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) sector, the proportion of women examined is on the rise but still about 10% lower than the national average. 

The data also show that lung cancer is the most common cancer in Israeli men, followed by colon cancer and prostate cancer. Among women in OECD countries the most common cancers are lung, breast and colon cancer.

Early diagnosis is vital, because a cancerous growth develops very slowly. It starts with a small lump of cells that does not cause any symptoms. Over time, the lump may grow and penetrate the surrounding tissues and even spread to distant organs. The more successful the tumor in its early stages, the better the chances of recovery. 

Some cancers have a hereditary predisposition, such as breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, melanoma skin cancer and more. People whose families have been diagnosed with these diseases are at high risk of contracting them, and it is recommended that they consider seeking genetic counseling. It should be noted that only in five percent to 10 percent of cancers have known genetic factors. 

However, it should be noted that even when a genetic factor is discovered, the disease does not necessarily develop. The presence of a familial genetic link increases the risk of healthy family members getting cancer, relative to the general population, and they must ensure that follow-up tests are performed and at the recommended frequency for them.

There is no solid scientific evidence that character traits can cause cancer or that people who are stressed are more likely to get cancer than calm people. Also, it has not yet been proven that stressful conditions cause a faster spread of existing cancer. Stress and strain can cause damage to various systems in our body and other medical problems in general, not necessarily to cancer. In general, for the sake of our health and quality of life, we should strive to reduce stress and mental stress as much as possible.

The world of science is succeeding in reaching a better understanding of the formation of cancerous tumors and developing improved and more- effective prevention and treatment methods. 

Studies have shown that joining support groups and body and mindfulness activities such as yoga, improves patients’ quality of life and strengthens coping processes in the recovery process.