Before Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rises as a foremost source of mortality in front of our eyes this year, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of global death.
Both COVID-19 and cancer do not discriminate (any age, race/ethnics or gender), and cause great global public health concern.
In March, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic, after the disease spread to more than 100 countries leading to tens of thousands of cases within a few months worldwide.
Strictly speaking, a pandemic is defined when an epidemic spans various continents and affects a large number of people. Although the scientific community has not adapted the pandemic label for noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer, cancer certainly reaches pandemic proportion and severity (regardless of speed).
To be clear, my focus is not about terminology but about the brutality of a disease. However, if we view cancer morbidity and mortality through the lens of pandemic, without disputing the terminology or the precise term, we can implement protective measures and save more lives, especially from preventable cancers.
Here I examine what dire similarities COVID-19 and cancer share and how they differ.
|
COVID-19 (Communicable disease)
|
Cancer (Noncommunicable disease) |
|
| Characteristic | Sudden outbreak, quickly, and highly infectious | Slowly developing over decades, noninfectious |
| Origin & Cause | Natural or animal origin, caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) | Cells of origin, i.e. cellular mutation, due to a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors; <10% of hereditary cancers |
| Person-to-Person transmission | Yes | No in general, but some cancers can be passed from person to person through viral transmission. |
| Speed & Severity | Deadly in days | Deadly in years |
| Global death & mortality rate (MR) | 145,500+ as of 4/16/2020
MR: *projected 2-3%, presently ~4% in US |
Nearly 10 million annually;
MR: rose by 17% since 1990, with age-standardized 0.05-0.15% |
| Human immunity
|
Nobody is immune to it at present and it can strike virtually everybody | Can strike virtually anyone |
| Effective treatment | No evidence yet | Yes, if at earlier stages. |
| Best weapon | Containment and mitigation to reduce community transmission | Risk factor prevention, early detection & treatment |
| Emotional difficulty, fear, anxiety, and powerlessness | Yes | Yes |
| Say Goodbye or celebrate a lost life in person | No | Yes |
| Public health urgency | Yes | ? (ask ourselves) |
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*At this time, it is impossible to reach a precise MR of this outbreak.
Because of the complexity and multifaceted mechanisms underlying cancer development, doing one or two things won’t be sufficient in beating cancer. We must take multiple actions with integrative approaches—some of the same protective measures can be put in place to prevent cancer amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, strengthen the immune system—the most powerful defense we have. However, during physical distancing or home-bound time, stressful emotions such as fear, anxiety, and anger; sleepless nights; as well as unhealthy behaviors (e.g., poor diet, more alcohol consumption, less physical activity) can provoke the burden of noncommunicable disease (heart disease, diabetes and cancer) through weakening the immune functions.
COVID-19 will pass just like any other pandemic; it’s only a matter of time.
Unlike COVID-19, cancer persists as another health crisis and many are living with it now, which should not be forgotten. Compromised immune systems and complicated cancer treatments for cancer patients become more challenging at this troubling time, and personal stories should also not be forgotten. Thus, the battle against cancer should keep on. The book Key Strategies for Cancer Prevention details how cancer is developed, as well as what you can do to prevent cancer and optimize your well-being. So, remember to pick up a copy for yourself or your loved ones.
Like COVID-19, cancer demands our rekindled attention and care. Behind the numbers are human lives.
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