JAKARTA, ID – Singapore is targeting lung cancer patients from Indonesia given the large number of cases of this cancer. A number of treatments can be done to treat the cancer that most Indonesian men suffer from.
“In Singapore, the most common cancer is colorectal cancer (colon). Meanwhile, lung cancer numbers continue to decline. In contrast to Indonesia, the number of lung cancer is very large and is dominated by men. This makes us target patients from Indonesia,” said Dr. Wong Siew Wei, an oncologist (cancer) specialist and senior medical consultant at Parkway Cancer Center, Singapore, to Investor Daily, Saturday (14/1/2023).
Globocan 2020 data states that the number of cancer cases in Indonesia has reached 398,914. Breast cancer ranks first, reaching 16.6% or 65,856 cases, cervical cancer 9.2% or 36,633 cases, then lung cancer 8.8% or 34,783 cases, followed by colorectal cancer 8.6% or 34,189 cases, and liver cancer 5.4% or 21,392 cases.
According to Dr. Wong, cigarettes are the culprit for the large number of lung cancer patients in Indonesia. “Smoking, including passive smoking, is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. In Indonesia, the price of cigarettes is cheap. In Singapore, cigarettes are expensive,” said Dr. Wong, a graduate of the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Wong explained, the lifetime risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers is 30%. Alternatives such as cigars, filter cigarettes, and low-tar cigarettes are both likely to cause lung cancer. Other environmental risk factors for lung cancer include: asbestos, radon, air pollution, diesel fumes, and coal fumes.
Is lung cancer genetically inherited? According to Dr. Wong, no. “Although clusters of lung cancer have been identified in several families, no specific heritable gene mutations have been described,” explained Dr Wong.
Leading Cause of Death
According to Dr. Wong, lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death. In 2/3 cases found at an advanced stage. “Lung cancer is the main cause of death in cancer because lung cancer is very progressive. Especially lung cancer due to smoking, it is very progressive. When it is at an advanced stage, the life expectancy is only 4-5 months,” said Dr. Wong.
Symptoms of lung cancer, Dr. Wong said, include recurrent lung infections, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, unwanted weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, and bone pain.
At Parkway Cancer Center, said Dr. Wong, lung cancer patients will be detected whether they have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Treatment options for NSCLC largely depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health and lung reserves, namely surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, targeted therapy, to immunotherapy. While the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) includes radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
“Minimally invasive techniques such as video-assisted thoracic surgery and robot-assisted thoracic surgery through smaller incisions are increasingly being adopted to reduce pain, blood loss, length of stay and allow for shorter recovery times,” said Dr. Wong.
Editor : Mardiana Makmun (mardiana.makmun@investor.id)
