Posted on 20th December, 2023 at 12:28:20 AM
A few drugs have passed trials, namely tamoxifen for breast cancer, aspirin and some other nonsteroidal anti inflammatory agents against colonic cancer, finesteride for prostate cancer, H. pylori infection curing drugs for gastric cancer, vitamin A derivatives for oral cancer.
Antioxidants have a special role. Antioxidants prevent damage to cells by free radicals, which are cells that have lost an electron and have become unstable cells. The free radicals try to steal electrons from other normal cells in order to become stable and thus create more new free radicals leading ultimately to the damage to DNA and development of mutated cells and possible development of a malignant or cancer cell.
Also diets deficient in vitamins and certain minerals can cause development of cancer like selenium deficiency cause esophageal cancer in certain areas and adequate intake of vitamins and minerals can prevent cancer. Although a large study in USA has shown that B-carotene treatment in smokers actualluy resulted in an increase in cancer incidence.
Amongst the common substances we intake, turmeric, carrot, tomato, leafy vegetables, garlic, and fish prevent cancer. In that respect simple Bengali diet is good for prevention of cancer but not perhaps the Chittagong type of diet that use heavily salted dried fish, excess of chili, and spices.
