The cancer paradox

Vocabulary :
Paradox (parˈə däksˈ)
noun
A statement that seems to say two opposite things but that may be
true
Example: The Paradox of Life is by giving, we receive. By sacrificing, we
gain.
Life expectancy noun
the average life span of a person or an animal
Example: The life expectancy of dogs is 15 years.
Factor \ˈfak-tər\
noun
one of the things that cause something to happen
 Example: Poor planning was a major factor in
the company's failure.

Sanitation \ˌsa-nə-ˈtā-shən\
Noun
The process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc.,
by removing waste, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc.
Example: Proper sanitation can help stop the spread of diseases.
Infectious \in-ˈfek-shəs\
noun
Capable of being passed to someone else
Example: Common cold is an infectious disease.
Accumulate \ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlāt\
verb
to gather or acquire (something) gradually as time passes
Example: The letters accumulate because the mailman is on vacation.
Foe \ˈfō\
noun
An enemy
Example: Lex Luthor is Superman’s foe.
Fatal \ˈfā-təl\
Adjective
Causing death
Example: Smoking is a fatal habit.
Chronic \ˈkrä-nik\
Adjective
continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
Example: He suffers from chronic arthritis.
 While both life expectancy and its quality have improved significantly in Western
countries in the past century, cancer rates are going up. Between 1979 and 2003, the UK
incidence rose by 8 percent in men, and by 26 percent in women. This is sometimes blamed
on pollution or other environmental factors, but its principal cause is actually the success of
modern medicine.
Antibiotics, sanitation, better nutrition, and other improvements in public health mean
that fewer people are dying young of infectious diseases - but longer lives allow more DNA
damage to accumulate, to the point at which tumors can form. The genetic nature of this
disease explains the apparent paradox of medicine. As it defeats other foes, more of us will
live long enough to develop cancer. The challenge, which genetics will help to meet, is to turn
it from a fatal disease into a chronic one.

Questions:
1. How many percentages did the cancer incidence in men increase by? In women?
2. What is the principal cause of cancer?
3. What are the things that make fewer people die young of Infectious diseases?

Discussion:
1. Do you agree that living longer is the principal cause of cancer?
2. Are you familiar with the concept "Survival of the Fittest?"
3. Do you think that there are downsides of modern medicine?
4. What is health care like in your country?
5. Do you know anyone with cancer?

Henderson, M., Baker, J., and Crilly, T. 100 Most Important Science Ideas: Key Concepts in
Genetics, Physics, and Mathematics. 2011. Firefly Books Ltd.