New cancer treatment introduced

A medical theoretical and practical conference was organized on Wednesday to locally introduce linear accelerator (LINAC), a device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer.

“The Mongolian government has been carrying out a project on improving the quality and access to cancer treatment since 2011 through a concessional loan from Austria. Within the scope of this project, we opened the opportunity to introduce new technology for external beam radiation treatment,” noted Minister of Health D.Sarangerel.

“Simply put, a beam with the same size of the targeted tumor will be radiated on the patient. This method can avoid harming healthy organs with the beam. It also allows doctors to monitor and keep track of changes during the treatment.”

Doctors noted that the new technology will allow cancer patients to get treated within the country without having to travel overseas for treatment at a high cost. This service will be provided through health insurance, according to the minister.

Based on 2017 statistics, 6,073 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year but 4,004 of the patients end up dying. At present, 18,053 people are reportedly living with cancer. Cancer is increasing throughout the globe and the WHO predicts that 32 million people will have been affected by cancer by 2025, with 8.2 million likely to die due to cancer.

Many factors are causing risks of cancer, including unhealthy lifestyle habits and wrong diet. The WHO recommended early diagnosis, sufficient personnel, and introduction of new technology as top ways to preventing and treating cancer.

Taking this into account, the Ministry of Health plans to launch a cancer preventive screening before October.

“In terms of human resource, we’re training skilled doctors. In particular, we’re sending beam radiation doctors and specialists to train four to six times in Japan every year. It’s also possible to introduce the latest technological advancements in Mongolia. It could be said that we have created a comprehensive structure for early diagnosis and treatment for cancer,” said D.Sarangerel.

...WHO predicts that 32 million people will have been affected by cancer by

2025, with 8.2 million likely to die due to cancer...