Mental health, climate change and cancer
Three of the issues that are political priorities at European level, and also in Spain, have a close relationship with each other. The mental health, cancer and climate change occupy the upper part of the agenda and budgets of the European Union (EU).
La depression and anxiety They appear in patients with serious pathologies. A study presented at ASCO analyzes the coincidence of these psychiatric symptoms in cancer patients. It is not necessary to remember that continued stress itself is a risk factor associated with cancer.
But a cancer patient with depression or anxiety is more It is difficult to treat y requires more resources of the health system. The comparison is simple: a retrospective analysis presented at ASCO has compared to patients with and without mental health disorders. Patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer over 65 years old were included in the study.
The impact of cancer patients' problems with depression and anxiety was examined through data from healthcare needs and medication. The half of the almost 20.000 patients studied they had depression or anxiety coexistent. Breast cancer had a significantly higher rate of mental involvement, followed by colorectal.
“THE MENTAL STATE INFLUENCES THE ELDERLY COSTS OF TREATMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER. BUT IT IS A DATA TO BE ANALYZED IN MORE DEEPER”
A 54% increase in associated costs has been determined compared to cancer patients who did not have mental health problems. What is surprising is that after adjusting the costs associated with these mental disorders, the cost of treating them. Without a doubt, the mental state influences the elderly costs of treatments associated with cancer. But it is a fact to analyze more deeply.
“ONE IN EVERY 8 DEATHS IN EUROPE IS RELATED TO RADIATION, CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES, POLLUTION AND INFECTIOUS AGENTS”
Pollution and cancer
In this context, exposure to pollution and carcinogens in relation to climate change has been related to diseases oncohematological. At least one in every 8 deaths In Europe it is related to radiation, carcinogenic substances, pollution and cancers associated with infectious agents.
El EU European Cancer Plan will include relating the environmental data, work in a network and in a multidisciplinary way. Taking into account that the 40% of cancer cases are preventable, the EU Plan is an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate risks the second cause of death in Europe.
A new epidemiology will now focus on environmental measurement and in obtaining new parameters that set pollution limits and can effectively prevent the development of cancer.
Source and text: https://gacetamedica.com/opinion/salud-mental-cambio-climatico-y-cancer/
