CANCER PREVENTABLE, CURABLE WITH EARLY DETECTION - DR. GUNASEKERA
Cancer may become the number one killer and one of the major health issues in Sri Lanka by 2020 and all possible efforts have to be taken to prevent this health disaster coming to a peak by all concerned, a medical specialist said.
Dr. Dehan Gunasekara said cancer is a preventive disease and not only the health ministry and doctors but the public, the society and teachers and students must also be determined to control cancer through awareness on cancer, good food habits and giving up bad behaviour, smoking and chewing of betel.
The Health Ministry has done everything possible to save women from becoming victims of breast cancer. There are 980 ‘Suva Nari’ clinics islandwide established for women to have check ups for breast cancer, cervical cancer, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure etc.
early detection and uninterrupted treatment are the sure ways to control and cure this deadly disease but death is imminent if the proper treatment was not done at the right time
Addressing a seminar held at the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMC) auditorium to mark the ‘World Cancer Day’ which falls on February 4.
Dr. Gunasekara said breast cancer is the most prevalent in Sri Lanka while, cervical cancer, lung cancer and oral cancer are also on the rise.
“Cancer is preventable and curable with early detection. Therefore, it is extremely vital to have a self examination on her breast once a month by each and every woman over 20 years of age and those over 45 years in particular. Pap smear test is vital for women mainly after 40 years of age to check for cervical cancer.
The husband, a sister or the mother also can examine the breasts. Breast cancer occurs when a genetic change appears in the breast tissue. Breast cancer usually starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. A malignant tumour can spread to other parts of the body. A breast cancer that started off in the lobules is known as lobular carcinoma, while one that developed from the ducts is called ductal carcinoma.
Refraining fully from chewing of betel with areca nuts and chunam, smoking and regular partaking of fast food, red, charred and red meat and very hot beverages and alcohol put cancer away,” Dr. Gunasekara stressed.
Dr Suraj Perera said early detection and uninterrupted treatment are the sure ways to control and cure this deadly disease but death is imminent if the proper treatment was not done at the right time.
“The Health Ministry has done everything possible to save women from becoming victims of breast cancer. There are 980 ‘Suva Nari’ clinics islandwide established for women to have check ups for breast cancer, cervical cancer, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure etc. We all must know that cancer of any type can be cured only through early detection and early treatment. Otherwise, cancer brings imminent death. Learning to have a self examination of breasts for cancer by women is also important for early detection,” Dr. Perera stressed.
Explaining some non modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, Dr. Perera said being a female, aging, having one or more blood relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, long term exposure to estrogen hormone (starting menstruation before 12 years or delayed menstruation beyond 55 years) and born with some abnormal genes are non modifiable.
Excessive weight gain after menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy (Long term use of estrogen and progesterone hormones), smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol use, unnecessary exposure to radiation are modifiable. Females who do not have children and did not breastfeed are also at a risk of developing breast cancer, he added.
In Sri Lanka, 17,482 new patients with cancer had been detected in 2011and ratio to the population was 83.7 per 100,000. In 2018, 18.1 million new cancer patients had been detected in the world and 9.6 million died from cancer.