Cancer is a growing disease. If in 2012, 14 million people worldwide were suffering from various malignancies, by 2030, their number will reach almost 22 million. These figures are explained both by the global population growth and by the improvement of life expectancy.
“If we talk about Romania, there is a different prevalence of cancer in women than in men. The most common, in women, is breast cancer, followed by cervical cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, then, in the first ten, there are ovarian cancers, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, malignant and renal melanoma. In men, the first place in frequency is colon cancer, followed by prostate cancer, then lung cancers, bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, kidney cancer, gastric cancer and leukemia, “explains Dr. Mirela Dragan , oncologist at Onco Card Hospital.
Romanian oncologists also report an alarming increase in cancers located in the digestive tract such as stomach or colon. There are more and more patients, younger and younger, they reach doctors, in advanced stages. Which drastically reduces their life expectancy.
“If a cancer is detected at the beginning of the disease, the chances of cure can double. In fact, it is known that in stages 1 and 2, the cure rate of cancer is 80-90%, while in advanced stages, it decreases dramatically. It also depends on the location, but it is important to be discovered in the early stages “, adds the oncologist Mirela Dragan.
In addition, the Onco Card expert draws attention to some dangerous habits that persist among the Romanian population:
“The most dangerous is the temptation to resort to natural therapies. We tell patients to at least let us know if they are using natural therapies, because there may be side effects or involutions and we should know their origin. Unfortunately, there are also patients who use only natural therapy or certain diets. And unfortunately, we also saw cancers that would have been treatable and curable if they had come to us in time. For example, I saw breast cancer in a young person who did not want to be treated. The disease evolved, he had multiple liver metastases and then in the 12th hour, he thought he wanted to do something, but it was too late “, explains Dr. Mirela Dragan.
Another prejudice is related to the biopsy: many people still believe that the collection of tissue from the tumor leads to the spread of the disease in the body. This is totally wrong, as biopsy is the only method that determines exactly what type of disease it is. There are reservations about patients for chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but these therapies are part of international cancer treatment protocols that give good results in Romania if patients arrive on time to the doctor.
“In addition, in the case of cancer, the multidisciplinary approach is vital: an oncologist cannot do his job without a surgeon, without a pathologist, without a hematologist, gastroenterologist, etc. It is also important to have a trusting relationship between doctor and patient, it accounts for maybe more than 50% of the disease evolution “, adds the oncologist.
Doctors also warn Romanians about dangerous habits that increase the risk of cancer: sedentary lifestyle, unbalanced diet and smoking. These must be corrected through diet, exercise and smoking cessation, especially by those who have close relatives with cancer. Genetic inheritance is another risk factor for malignancies.
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