The Indiscriminate Nature of Cancer - Case Study Example

The Indiscriminate Nature of Cancer Preliminary Issues The exploration published on the World Health Organization blog (WHO) on the impact of cancer on different people, irrespective of society’s stratification, highlights the indiscriminate nature of cancer. The case of Mariam John of 13 years of age from Tanzania and Sridhar Reddy of 52 years from India insinuates the chronic impact of cancer (World Health Organization, 2002). According to the two case studies, the misconception that cancer was a disease of the rich and that have-nots cannot afford to have it came out clearly. The spread of cancer remains, according to Sridhar’s case, a lifestyle disease, even though Mariam’s case is different. The WHO and The Pfizer Medical officers held their research from different perspectives of age, one at a tender age, and the other at his sunset days. For instance, Mariam’s case explains why the failure of people to make use of the available knowledge about chronic disease prevention and control mechanism continues to endanger the future generations (Redman, 2007). Mariam case exemplifies the culture shock, most impounding on the poor majority of the global community. The Sridhar’s case is a cancer condition brought by his way of living. Having chewed tobacco and drank heavily since his youthful days, this lifestyle has deteriorated his respiratory and blood systems resulting in cancer. Since cancer continues to endanger people’s lives through such lifestyles, the main issue lies in having enough knowledge and awareness or resources, like Mariam’s problem, to prevent the spread of cancer (Ray, 2005). Studies done in India to examine the percentage of elderly people at risk of having cancer or already battling with it indicates that 2.3 percent is battling with cancer while 4.5 percent risks being victims due to their lifestyle (Weisman, 2002). In Tanzania, the researcher also found that the younger generation born of able families, despite their lavish and uncontrolled feeding habits had a1.9 percent chances of having cancer. In addition, children from poverty-stricken families have uncontrolled eating habits yet cannot afford reasonable medical cover, hence 5 percent of them are more susceptible to cancer at tender ages of 14-25 years (Mukherjee, 2010). Present Situation The WHO and The Pfizer Medical researchers separated the two cases in order to highlight their assessment. The most important issue that the group had in place was to disseminate the knowledge in understanding what cancer was. By making cancer more realistic to the youthful generation, not only in India but also in Tanzania, the group thought this would alter the resultant effects of cancer in elderly days because of unreasonable living (Ray, 2005). The thing that may hinder these two different age sets of people in the society from having cancer is the knowledge of the living lifestyle (Redman, 2007). For instance, the youthful generation like Mariam, faces the risk of having cancer due to lack of knowledge of their health living, the economic, social, as well as biological constraints. There is pre-assumption that due to lack of health education, the youthful generation, 58%, would have to live as victims of cancer in forthcoming days. This is more practical to those in a lower status in the society, making them more at risk of having cancer. Finalize Issue Identification The menace of cancer continues to catch up with many, who still keep the assumption that it is a disease of the opulence class (Mukherjee, 2010). In Africa, as the WHO case study would go on to reveal, lack of education and knowledge about how deadly cancer can be remains as the hindrance in the fight against cancer. Lifestyle remains greatest trap that sixty percent remain unenthusiastic about adopting healthy ones, like Sridhar’s case, have fallen prey to cancer (World Health Organization, 2002). The youth generation adoption of fast foods and excessive use of cosmetics for beauty has also exposed almost forty percent vulnerable to cancerous effects. Most of the population at risk of having cancer is a poor lot, making them more likely to acquire the disease. However, through the creation of awareness and healthy education about cancer, the youthful generation (in India and Tanzania) remains at a feasible phase of life to eradicating cancer in the society. Analysis The rejuvenating point of these case studies rallies around demystifying the myth that cancer is a disease of the haves when at the present is going berserk in the entire human society. As a result, the creation of health education to the age mates of Mariam and Sridhar’s case, initiated a move to make a difference in the effects of cancer (Redman, 2007). The prevalent weakness was that the poor population assumed that cancer cannot be their disease, yet it kept on causing death unknowingly. Such a misconception provided the best opportunity to throw light on the misunderstanding and replace it with health education to the population, both the rich and the poor class (Mukherjee, 2010). The generation of Sridhar’s case, for example, provided the threat of this study, as they could not relate their lifestyle as a reason for cancer and how health education would help in the fight (World Health Organization, 2002). Such an assumption came as unfavorable hence posing a hurdle towards the fight against the spread of cancer. Recommendation The lack of health education and the persistence of the myth about cancer were some of the avenues, which would have catalyzed the spread of cancer (Weisman, 2002). Healthy eating remains as an important aspect of Mariam and Sridhar’s case. A recommendation is to ensure that the awareness of health education cuts across the generations, so as the society does not live at risk of harboring cancer. Most importantly, the creation of an effective curriculum for health education would help rejuvenate the community members on the truths about cancer (Redman, 2007). The health education should not discriminate any age rather it ought to be reaching everyone to prevent the unprecedented spread of cancer. Action plan The winning plan is to convert the fast food eating youthful generation into more conservative individuals in observing healthy eating and exercise (World Health Organization, 2002). Such a plan would become feasible if there were the implementation of the health curriculum, both formally in schools and in informal adult education for the elderly (Weisman, 2002). It might not be a quick start action plan, but the positives underneath the plan are overwhelming. Apart from conducting the populous full research to ascertain the extent of the cancer effect, counseling programs should take place (Redman, 2007). Such a move would set in the motion to create the much-needed awareness throughout the society before the real implementation of health education in curriculum takes effect. The last two months would delve more on prevention and health education (Ray, 2005). The time span might take at most eight months. There would be some ground covered in eliminating the threats of having cancer within the action plan. The health education to the public would concern most on the risks therein and the best ways to live away from the possibility of having cancer. The action plan might require financial input, something that WHO and The Pfizer Medical & Academic Partnerships (MAP) Program would venture in quickly. Action Plan (Eight Months) Task 0-2 Months Research on cancer effect on larger society 3-5 Months Create Awareness and Curriculum implementation 6-8 Months Health Education & Prevention Conclusion Not until one comes to terms with the way, cancer has taken over the lives of naïve societies; it might become difficult to ascertain its effects on the society. Cancer is a lifestyle disease, capable of consuming anyone irrespective of age and class (Weisman, 2002). Mariam and Sridhar’s case proves it. It is true that the developing like in India and Tanzania lacks the necessary health facilities and even the knowledge that can help deal with cancer effect (World Health Organization, 2002). However, the introduction of health education and the continual scientific breakthroughs on how to deal with cancer shines some light into the whole issue. One might conclude that the education is imperative, and the society is bound to adapt to the new healthy living ways (DeVita, Hellman & Rosenberg, 2001). The developed world took the initiative to control the effect of cancer, a move that has since been successful in advocacy for health education and living. Because the same effort pulled through in developed countries in Europe and American states, educating the society would yield success and transformation into healthy ways of living. References DeVita, V. T., Hellman, S., & Rosenberg, S. A. (2001). Cancer: Principles & practice of oncology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Mukherjee, S. (2010). The emperor of all maladies: A biography of cancer. New York: Scribner. Ray, E. B. (2005). Health communication in practice: A case study approach. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. Redman, B. K. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby. Weisman, A. D. (2002). On dying and denying: A psychiatric study of terminality. New York: Behavioral Publications. World Health Organization. (2002). National cancer control programmes: Policies and managerial guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization. World Health Organization., & WHO Meeting on Prevention of Liver Cancer. (2003). Prevention of liver cancer: Report of a WHO meeting. Read More