A group of specialists and representatives of civil society from Latin America and the Caribbean has formulated a series of prevention measures for cancer, based on the most recent and rigorous scientific evidence and adapted to common scenarios in the subregion. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) convened this group.
As a result, the brand new code presents 17 actions to help prevent cancer that anyone can take.
It also contains public policy recommendations aimed at guaranteeing effective application.
In both parts, actions for people as well as public policy recommendations, the new code addresses alcohol.
Latin America and the Caribbean Code against Cancer
The Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer (LAC Code against Cancer) project is the first regional adaptation of the European Code Against Cancer, under the World Code Against Cancer Framework.
The recommendations made in the new Code are not legally binding nor are they presented in order of importance. The public policy recommendations presented in the new code are based on internationally agreed upon and accepted strategies.
Some structural and socioeconomic factors in Latin America and the Caribbean might pose obstacles to fully implementing the recommended cancer prevention strategies.
These factors include poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, drinking water, and sanitation, and obstacles to accessing healthy food and health infrastructure.
It is essential that governments take action to encourage and ensure people’s ability to adopt the code’s 17 recommendations. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are specifically asked to disseminate and implement the 17 recommendations described in the report without change.
Tobacco, weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol, and breastfeeding: 17 actions for cancer prevention
The development and endorsement of the LAC Code against Cancer is the result of the involvement of more than 60 independent experts in epidemiology, cancer prevention, health promotion, behavioural change, public health and public policies, and institutions and representatives of the civil society and medical associations from LAC. They were convened in several committees and working groups (WGs) and led by the international organizations IARC and PAHO/WHO.
The 17 recommendations on primary and secondary prevention of cancer make special mention of harmful products. The new LAC Code against Cancer makes special recommendations for avoiding alcohol as it has been empirically proven that there is no safe level of alcohol use in relation to cancer risk.
- Don’t smoke or use any type of tobacco. If you do, quitting is possible, with professional help if needed. Don’t use e-cigarettes either, as they lead to tobacco use.
- Make your home a smoke-free place. Respect and promote laws that ensure smoke-free spaces to protect our health.
- Achieve or maintain a healthy weight throughout your life.
- Get daily physical activity throughout your life.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. This helps prevent several types of cancer.
- Breastfeed your baby – the more months the better.
- Protect yourself from direct sun exposure during peak sunlight hours.
- If you cook or heat your home with coal or firewood, make sure smoke doesn’t build up inside your home.
- If air pollution is high where you are, limit your time outdoors.
- Find out if your job exposes you to substances that can cause cancer, and request and adopt the recommended protective measures.
- Infection from Helicobacter pylori bacteria can cause stomach cancer. Take the appropriate screening and protective measures.
- Infection with viruses such as hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can also cause cancer. Take appropriate protective measures.
- Do not use hormone replacement for menopause unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
- If you are between the ages of 50 and 74, visit a healthcare provider and ask for an early detection test for colon and rectal cancer.
- If you are 40 years of age or older, visit a healthcare provider every two years for a clinical breast exam.
- If you are between the ages of 30 and 64, visit a healthcare provider and ask for a molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) test at least every 5–10 years for early detection of cervical cancer.
Recommendations for policy-makers on implementing the LAC Code against Cancer
The Latin America and the Caribbean Code against Cancer proposes a series of public policy recommendations that governments should take to prevent cancer and reduce the cancer burden.
- Implement tax policies, considering best practices, aimed at discouraging the use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and unhealthy foods and beverages
- Implement health warning labels for the containers of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and unhealthy foods and beverages. For foods and beverages, it is recommended to implement warning labels that include the PAHO nutrient profile model
- Create healthy environments in the community, schools, educational centers, and public buildings: ban the use of products that contain tobacco and generate emissions in shared environments, as well as the use of e-cigarettes, which are a gateway for tobacco use; prohibit alcohol use in these settings; decrease the availability of unhealthy foods and beverages and increase the availability of healthy foods and beverages; promote the creation of spaces for physical activity, as well as spaces to facilitate breastfeeding, and ensuring access to drinking water.
- Ban advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and breast-milk substitutes; and ban the advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
- Implement communication, education, and counseling programs to encourage behavioral changes in the population regarding the use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and unhealthy foods and beverages, and to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and breastfeeding.
- Adopt the international codes and conventions related to the recommendations above, and ensure that they are correctly implemented
- This includes the WHO Technical package SAFER to prevent and reduce alcohol-related death and disability and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Sources
International Agency for Research on Cancer: “Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer“
Pan American Health Organisation: “Latin America and the Caribbean Code against Cancer“
Cancer Epidemiology Journal: “Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st Edition. Scope: The Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer project is the first regional adaptation of the European Code Against Cancer, under the World Code Against Cancer Framework.”