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Lasmi, his real name, 37, recently learned from his social media that his cervical smear had been reduced. She went to the hospital and the obstetrician-gynecologist revealed suspicions of early injury to cervical cancer still being treated. She felt grateful that the cancer was detected at an early stage. She shared her experience on her social media and received many positive comments.
Young people have created social media groups such as Twitter to lead a cancer movement. Short films on Facebook also raise awareness of cancer. They initiate other activities to show cancer patients that they are not alone in their fight against cancer. Their programs remind us that appropriate, evidence-based drugs are just one of the keys to fighting cancer. The other key is the empowerment of patients and society.
Indonesia is struggling with an increasing number of cancer cases. According to Globocan data for 2018, the prevalence of new cancer cases in the country is 348,809 cases and the number of deaths badociated with cancer is 207,210. Recently, a controversy broke out when the Agency's Health and Social Security (BPJS Kesehatan) announced that the leading drugs for colon cancer would be removed from the list. Yet, the turmoil has apparently changed his decision regarding drugs for chemotherapy, bevacizumab and cetuximab.
In line with World Cancer Day on 4 February, the Global Cancer Movement is dedicated to supporting the opportunities offered by digital and social media to raise awareness of cancer, particularly early detection. The ultimate goal is to save millions of preventable deaths every year by raising awareness and urging governments and citizens around the world to take action to fight cancer.
The early cancer screening program includes smears and visual inspection of acetic acid (IVA) for cervical cancer and SADARI or self-examination of the bad cancer, all of which must be expanded. A society-based support system would help the government fight against cancer.
The government could launch an awareness campaign on healthy lifestyles to prevent cancer, including linking YouTube users and social media celebrities. A healthy lifestyle can prevent at least half of the most common cancers. Lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, adopting a healthier diet and increasing physical activity, being well packaged and catchy, would be more easily accepted by the millennium.
In Asia, Japan has already empowered its society in cancer control programs. Japan recently launched "Company 5.0", a technology-driven, people-centered society.
The Society 5.0 in Cancer program also includes the digitization of individual health data, particularly for diagnosing cancer, as well as remote badistance technology to badist remote physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
In large cities, technology would facilitate the treatment of patients based on their genetic profile and would also include remote monitoring services in the event of an emergency.
In remote areas, 5.0 technology allows physicians to easily attend medical webinars to discuss difficult cases with oncologists. Doctors could send X-rays or CT scans of the patient and pbad them on to the consultant at the University Hospital to badist in the badysis. Doctors in remote areas could also acquire vocational training.
Indonesia, as an archipelago with many isolated locations, could use 5.0 technology to fight the cancer epidemic. Although expensive, it should help reduce the prevalence of cancer and its national financial burden.
Finally, actions across the 5.0 society and good government financial support to BPJS for a cancer prevention and cure program should follow if we really want to defeat cancer in this millennium. I will do it and I can fight against cancer!
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The author is a PhD student at Gunma University Japan and focuses on molecular and genomic studies.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Jakarta Post.
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