Cancer cells and Carnival misbehaving

Misbehaving refers to activities associated with street parties that may not be culturally acceptable at other times, eg during Lent.

This concept of misbehaving can be applied to activities of cancer cells. Cancers represent uncontrollable cell growth. That is, cells disobey the law for normal cellular growth at particular sites in its body. We generally name the type of cancer based on the site of abnormal growth, eg breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer etc.

Such cells grow at rates that are much faster than other cells in the same location.

During Carnival, one often observes that the “misbehaviours” by one or two revellers soon become the movements and gyrations of the particular section of the band or the entire band of revellers. This is achieved through bodily and verbal communication with nearby revellers.

Similarly, cancer cells are able to communicate and co-opt normal cells into their way of behaviour (misbehaving). In so doing, the normal cells can become cancerous and begin to misbehave in a manner similar to the cell co-opting it. This mode of misbehaving becomes the new norm and can be rapidly adopted by nearby cells until all cells tissue or organ become cancerous. The cancer can now spread throughout this tissue at this location. The cancer is referred to as malignant. When such cells move to other parts of the body far removed from their original location and continue the malignant process, the cancer is said to have metastasised. This is called metastasis.

For revellers, Ash Wednesday marks an end to much of the misbehaving.

Revellers return to their normal mode of operating. When cancer cells stop their misbehaving, the resulting tumour is said to be benign.

People requiring treatment to stop cancerous cells from spreading may experience periods where such cellular activities are not easily detected. Such people are said to be in remission. Remissions may last for months or years. For others, death is the eventual outcome.

Poor lifestyle choices such tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, poor dietary practices leading to overweight and obesity and unprotected sexual intercourse are potent risk factors. It is time to join the fight to put an end to misbehaviour at the cellular level. We can reduce the cancer risk by taking a few steps on a habitual basis: * Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to about four servings a day.

* If overweight or obese, get your weight into the normal range for your height. This may involve increasing your daily level of physical activity.

* Increase your level of physical activity. At a minimal, it should be about half hour of brisk walking three times a week.

* Learn and practise reducing your stress levels daily.

* Monitor and adjust fat and salt content in your meals with levels recommended for good health.

* Avoid sexual intercourse at an early age and practise responsible sexual behaviour thereafter.

Reduce your risk for cancers by participating in activities that stop your cells from misbehaving.

Dr Selby Nichols Faculty of Food and Agriculture UWI, St Augustine