Dr. ABBAS 

Why Cancer
Q. My mother recently was diagnosed with cancer. We are so worried. Why did she get this problem? What is cancer? What causes cancer?
Hussein Kassamali, DSM.
A. Cancer is not a single disease. It is a type of disease. There are over 200 different cancers, and each occurs in its own way. What they have in common is that they all start in the same way with a change in the normal make up of a cell. As a cancer is not one but many diseases, what causes one type of cancer does not necessarily cause another. For example, smoking is the main cause of lung cancer but not of breast cancer. Experts agree that most cancers are caused by our bodies or parts of them being exposed to certain substances over long periods of time. These cancer-causing substances are called carcinogens. The causes of some cancers have been found through the work of scientists who study how disease patterns vary from one group of individuals to another. They have noticed that some groups of people seem to suffer more from some kinds of cancer than other people. For example, people who smoke have a lot more of certain types of cancers than non-smokers. There are also differences between countries. Other main causes of cancers apart from smoking are alcohol, some kind of food, radiation and sunlight, hazards at work and viruses. It is estimated that more than 80 per cent of cancers may be avoidable through lifestyle changes and changes to environment.

Abuse
Q. My friend is 19 years old and has been through terrible sexual experience in the past. I would like to know what emotions and feelings usually result from abuse?
Concerned Reader, Moshi.
A. At the time of the assault, regardless of your age and sex, you feel totally terrified or shocked, possibly disoriented. Immediately after you were in crisis you experience anything from hysteria and tears to feeling cold and cut off from emotions. You may also fluctuate between the two. Older girls may feel ashamed, disgusted and blame themselves. A few people are furious (this is a good sign as it shows your sense of self is intact), lots of others kick into denial or minimization. They think that it was not bad and put it behind them, and will not let it drag them down. The head in the sand approach usually does not work because it is very difficult to work through the after effects of abuse without facing up to them. Other people develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition where you are susceptible to relieving the event whenever a trigger sets off a memory (something reminds you of the event). For you it might be the bristles on a man’s face, the smells of aftershave, the feel of a naked body or the act of penetration itself. A common reaction is to feel responsible for the abuse; that somehow you asked for it. Childhood abuse victims sometimes think they acted like it was okay; perhaps feeling they did not make it clear enough that they did not want to do it. As a result, they keep quiet and suffer silently.

Sexual Addict
Q. I have recently become sexually and romantically involved with a man whom I later discovered was arrested for sexual misconduct. I have become very fond of him and do not want to ruin the relationship. One of his most attractive qualities is that he is an excellent lover. When I found out about the arrest I confronted him, and he did not deny it. He has been diagnosed as a sexual addict, but the problem is in his past. I am afraid I may be encouraging his addiction. What should I do?
Concerned Reader, Singida.
A. While there may be people who could be called sexual addicts, I believe it is a term used too loosely. Who is diagnosed a sexual addict? More importantly, what type of sexual addict is he supposed to be? If he is a paedophile, for example, research has shown that such addicts never lose their predilection for having sex with young children. If that is his problem, you have cause for concern. On the other hand, if he broke the law and was arrested for soliciting a prostitute, you have less to worry about. It is important for you to learn as much about this man as possible. I also wonder how you found out about his arrest. Did he tell you, or did someone else? I do not know enough to advise you to just drop him to find someone new. But I certainly can suggest caution before continuing this relationship. If he has a severe problem, I would not stay with him in the hope that you can save him; that rarely works. If he can convince you he does have his problem under control that is another story.