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cancer, a cocktail of genes and environment

Madrid (El Mundo) .- The Princess of Asturias, Letizia Ortiz, has called for improved working environments and to prevent cancer and pointed out that 30% of cases could be prevented by acting on certain factors risk.

With this appeal, Doña Letizia opened the Niemeyer Centre in Avilés International Conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) on primary prevention of cancer and environmental determinants and occupational disease .

Doña Letizia, who is honorary president of the English Association Against Cancer and recalled that for the first time Avilés go alone since it is Princess of Asturias, praised "the commitment to investigate" of scientists and students who meet these days in the Principality.

be more effective in preventing cancer is mentioned, the objective of the WHO conference, and for that the two key tools are "information and research."

Health Minister, Leire Pajin, indicated that although genetic inheritance is an important factor in cancer, so is the environment in which we live and recalled that two weeks ago was approved the draft law of public health in Spain, he is confident that succeed by the end of the year. "Prevention is the best tool for maintaining our health," , stressed Pajín, who said that, therefore, the health system should not be solely responsible for health also influence the design of cities, the management water and air, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Pajín, preventive actions within his department, also pointed out that approved the so-called Anti-Tobacco Law (driven by its predecessor, Trinidad Jiménez), which entered into force in January and is being "More than reasonable to develop normally."

"Thanks to the civic behavior" of the English population, said the minister, who added that the law is a way of "dealing" with "serenity and responsibility" of the 50,000 deaths a year in Spain caused by smoke of snuff.

Director of Public Health and Environment WHO, Maria Neira, said, meanwhile, that the objective of the conference is "to bring to the understanding of all" that there are links between environmental factors and development of cancers and primary prevention therefore must gain a foothold in the public health agenda.

In this regard, he recalled that only 5% of health spending devoted to primary prevention of cancer and that any change in that rate "would be the benefit of society."

For his part, President of the Principality of Asturias, Vicente Álvarez Areces, is confident that the conference out a statement in the text to appreciate "an international appeal to the joint efforts of scientists, public authorities and society to avoid risk factors and reduce the incidence of cancer. "