Latin America Improves Quality of Life Care for Cancer Survivors



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Surviving cancer involves living with the physical, psychological, social and economic consequences rarely addressed, which represents a significant challenge for health systems in Latin America, said Dr. Abelardo Meneses, director of the National Institute of Health. Cancerologist of Mexico.

"In the treatment of a cancer patient must do, among other things, the rehabilitation that is where the survivor of the disease is, because those of us who study medicine focus all on the treatment, but not the suites ". during the celebration of Cancer Survivor's Day.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and, in 2015, caused the death of 8.8 million people.

In Mexico, this condition is the third leading cause of death and it is estimated that in 2013, 195 925 new cases were detected and caused 84 172 deaths.

Currently, this country records one million people who have survived a type of cancer.

Despite this, currently, rapid detection and advances in research, technology and innovation in treatments have enabled the lives of patients diagnosed with this disease.

However, Meneses laments that health professionals show little interest in identifying the needs and conditions of this new group of patients "in fact 87% of patients are not seen in their symptoms after overcoming the cancer ",.

The expert explains that in Europe and the United States the support programs for cancer survivors are well established, while in Latin America, countries like Argentina, Brazil and Colombia "have already started with these programs, the region."

That is why Mexico created the Cancer Survivors Registry four years ago, with which we seek, in addition to to know how many cases of success, what are the symptoms of a person who overcomes this disease.

According to Meneses, with this register that already has 3,201 people, 97% of people who survive cancer have symptoms such as pain, fatigue, fatigue, haemorrhages, among others.

To this, says the specialist, "you have to be careful because they have emotional damage, damage to reintegration, sometimes lose their jobs and when they want to have life insurance, they can not have blanket.

With the registry, we know that 93% of survivors have some emotional involvement, while 83% have a lack of badual desire or rejection of their partner.

In addition, 26% report having problems re-entering the workforce, 50% fear that cancer will return, while half have very low self-esteem.

"For example, a woman who has undergone a mastectomy who had a dissected chest does not dare to look in the mirror, the husband abandons her," Meneses explains.

The expert argued that one should work in the treatment of the disease in an interdisciplinary manner and understand that it is a disease that can be given to n '. anyone.

In fact, he explained that according to the trend observed in recent years, it can be said today that one in two men and one in three women in the world will suffer from cancer at a moment of their life.

"It's a disease that gives us all, it has no reference, but this type of program helps us know how to diagnose and act," he said.

In addition, I note that the celebration of Cancer Survivor's Day aims to ensure that survivors feel welcomed, "in a friendly and cordial environment and that they feel their voice is heard" thanks to "programs that facilitate their survival". .

Illustrative photo: Intendance of Montevideo (Artigas Pessio)

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