Cancer in Developed Countries (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Causes of Cancer

What is cancer?

• Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells multiply in an uncontrolled way and grow into tumours

  • There are more than 200 different types of cancer

• They develop in different parts of the body and can spread from one part of the body to another 

  • This is known as metastasis

• Cancer cells take nutrients and space away from healthy cells

  • They can damage organs and stop them from working properly

• If left untreated, cancer is usually fatal

• Cancer is a non-communicable disease

What is the global distribution of cancer?

• More than 80 million people around the world are living with cancer

• Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally

  • In 2021, it accounted for 15% of all deaths

• Cancer is most prevalent in developed countries

  • This is mainly due to older populations, better diagnosis systems, and lifestyle risk factors

• Developing countries have lower overall rates of cancer, but higher death rates once cancer occurs

  • This is mainly due to poor access to healthcare

• Some types of cancer have regional patterns

  • For example, higher rates of skin cancer where UV exposure is high, like Australia

What are the causes of cancer?

• Lifestyle factors

  • Smoking causes lung cancer, and is also linked to mouth, throat and bladder cancer

  • A diet high in processed and red meat increases the risk of bowel cancer

  • High alcohol intake increases the risk of liver, breast and throat cancer

  • Obesity and lack of physical activity can make people vulnerable to a range of cancers

•  Environmental factors

  • Air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer

  • Exposure to dangerous chemicals like asbestos can cause lung cancer

  • UV exposure from sunbeds or sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer

• Infections

  • Some infections can increase the risk of cancer

    • HPV is linked to cervical cancer

    • Hepatitis is linked to liver cancer

    • HIV is linked to various cancers 

• Age and genetics

  • The risk of cancer increases significantly as people get older

    • This is because there is more time for cellular damage to accumulate 

  • People can be more likely to suffer from cancer as a result of their family history

Effects of Cancer

Effects of cancer on people

• People with cancer suffer from a range of symptoms:

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Persistent tiredness

  • Lumps or swellings as the cancer grows

  • Pain/bleeding

  • Persistent cough, chest pain or breathlessness can result from lung cancer

  • Changes in bowel or bladder habits

• People who have been diagnosed with cancer may also struggle with their mental health

  • For example, they may suffer from anxiety or depression

Effects of cancer on communities and countries

• Lower life expectancies

  • The death of loved ones causes grief for families and negatively affects their health and well-being

• Poor health and long-term sickness

  • This leads to a loss of income for the person and their family

  • This could cause them to fall into poverty or experience a poorer standard of living

  • Other family members may also have to give up work to act as carers

• More sick days or people being unable to work

  • This reduces productivity and profits for businesses

  • This leads to lower tax income for the government

• More pressure on the health and welfare system

  • There may be a shortage of beds in hospitals

  • The cost of healthcare increases for medication and treatment

  • Higher spending on benefits due to people being unable to work

    • Money needs to be diverted away from other sectors, such as education, which could lead to slower progress in those areas

Strategies to Manage Cancer

Cancer prevention strategies and education

• Anti-smoking campaigns encourage people to stop smoking

  • For example, in the UK, smoking rates have fallen from around 45% in 1974 to around 12% in 2024

• People are educated about how to check themselves for lumps to help early detection

• Leaflets can raise awareness about eating healthily and exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight

  • A diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and less processed food is linked to reduced cancer risk

• As people become more aware of the risks, they are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices

  • For example, by reducing alcohol intake or using sun protection

• Vaccination programmes can reduce the number of HPV and Hepatitis infections, therefore lowering cancer risk 

Early detection and screening

• This can help to detect cancers earlier, when they are more treatable

  • This significantly increases survival rates

• There are several screening methods being used for certain cancers:

  • Mammograms for breast cancer

  • Cervical smear tests for cervical cancer

  • Bowel cancer screening 

Medical care to treat cancer

• Surgery to remove tumours can cure cancer if it is found early enough

• Chemotherapy uses drugs to help slow down the growth of cancer cells and can destroy them completely

• Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to target tumours and either destroy them or reduce their size

• Immunotherapy boosts the body’s immune system to help it attack and kill cancer cells