Somos Lanzarote requests that the Cabildo of Lanzarote prepare or commission a study that reveals the incidence of oncological diseases on the island, given the increase of 24.2% in mortality from cancer on the island during the last ten years, which has made this pathology the leading cause of death. With this proposal, which they will take to the Plenary session to be held next Thursday by the Cabildo, the formation seeks to know the "prevalence, distribution, risk factors and other statistical data that are useful to make a diagnosis about these pathologies in Lanzarote and La Graciosa".
These types of diseases are the leading cause of death in Lanzarote, causing more than 31% of deaths, well above the second cause of death, cardiovascular pathology. Likewise, Somos Lanzarote highlights as a basis for this request the trend experienced between 2004 and 2014, in which mortality from cancer on the island increased by 24.2% (between 114.6 and 142.3 deaths per 100,000). A figure that exceeds the average growth in the Canary Islands and Spain, which was 11.8% and 1.3% respectively.
The political group points out that this proposal arises from the study of the Association of Oncohematological Relatives (AFOL), which highlights the lack of "reliable statistical information on the incidence and/or prevalence of cancer in Lanzarote in accessible official records". The Afol report was carried out to analyze the feasibility of installing a radiotherapy unit in Lanzarote, concluding that the requirements are met for the island to have this service. But in addition, it highlighted the lack of data on cancer on the island. According to Somos, the Hospital Management itself indicated "a significant deficit of hospital information in this regard".
Risk factors and early detection
From Somos Lanzarote they point out that "another issue that should not go unnoticed regarding cancer is the importance of early detection, especially in typologies such as breast, uterine, colon or prostate cancer". In this regard, they denounce that "the current public health system presents deficiencies in early detection procedures, as health professionals have stated in different claims and even through public complaints".
They also indicate that "it is known that only 5-7% of people have a genetic predisposition to the development of certain cancers, while 40% of them are specifically due to the action of external agents that act on the body, causing alterations in cells".
"A study of these characteristics would therefore allow the detection of some risk factors that prevail on the island, allowing even to know data about its territorial distribution, facilitating the establishment of policies to fight against cancer", conclude from Somos Lanzarote.
