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World Cancer Day celebrated around the world on February 4th of each year. It highlights the need for urgent action to increase the early detection, detection and diagnosis of cancer in order to significantly improve the chances of survival for cancer patients. This year's World Cancer Day theme is "I am and I want to" and should inspire individuals, the health community and governments to take steps to improve public awareness and access to HIV testing. early detection and diagnosis.
According to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), more than 18 million new cases of cancer in the world were observed in 2018, including nearly 5 million bad, cervical, colorectal and could have been detected earlier and treated more effectively, thereby improving treatment. survival rate and quality of life.
The situation in Pakistan is very alarming because, after cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second leading cause of death. About 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of cancer are registered each year in Pakistan, and in most cases, patients see their doctors at a very late or late stage, and the facilities available to treat such a large number of patients are : much less.
In such a bleak scenario, SKMCH & RC does its best to treat cancer patients not only in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan. Incidentally, cancer is one of the most expensive diseases to treat. Nearly ten thousand new patients enroll each year with SKMCH & RC. Since 1994, 75% of its patients are benefiting from anticancer treatment receiving financial support, and more than Rs. 39 billion dollars have been spent for free cancer treatment up to now. .
Since treatment is very expensive, SKMCH & RC's medical technology is regularly updated. In 2018 alone, Rs. 80 million euros were spent for the purchase of four state-of-the-art machines: 3 Tesla MRI, Tom Digital Synthetic Mammography, Low-Dose Thoracic CT, Tesla MRI, CT Computed Tomography System. 160 cuts.
While Shaukat Khanum Hospital is committed to providing the best cancer services to all citizens, regardless of their ability to pay, it is also imperative to raise public awareness of the disease.
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, it is important to know the signs that must not be ignored in order to avoid cancer. "Wheezing or shortness of breath, chronic cough or chest pain, fever or frequent infections, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes or bumps in the neck, armpits or groin, persistent bruising or bleeding, weakness and fatigue, feeling of satiety and inability to eat, rectal bleeding or presence of blood in the stool Unexplained weight loss, stomachache or upset stomach, red, sore or swollen bads, back pain or lower right side
Men or women, both must watch for unusual changes in their body and energy level to detect any early signs of cancer. The sooner we notice a problem, the sooner we can begin to take the necessary steps to promote healing in the body.
Adopting an anti-cancer lifestyle can help the body stay healthy and avoid developing cancer. A healthy lifestyle involves getting enough sun exposure to maintain the level of vitamin D. Reduce processed foods and sugar consumption. Research has shown that a diet rich in processed foods (especially processed meats) can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Exercising regularly while having a healthy diet and avoiding toxins such as smoking, "Gutka", "Chaaliya", etc., is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of cancer. Likewise, a good night's sleep is also very important for the body and helps manage daily stress much more effectively, which helps reduce the risk of cancer. Reduce exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution. Avoid fried foods and boil, poach or steam.
On a personal level, with little effort, these relatively simple risk reduction strategies can help virtually eliminate the risk of cancer and radically improve the chances of cancer recovery, if any.
The writer is a consultant in medical oncology at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Cancer Research Center (SKMCH & RC).
Posted in Daily Times, February 3rd 2019.
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