Man has natural cancer-fighting mechanisms

There are more than 70,000 new cancer cases among Filipinos every year with lung, breast and colon among the most common body sites. Despite aggressive multisectoral prevention, information and awareness drive and the advances made in medicine and in the technology of its diagnosis and treatment, this dreaded disease continues to exact a heavy toll on human lives.

The truth is, a third of these cancer cases are actually preventable while another third can be cured if only patients give attention to some simple basic things in life.

While most people know it, many are not aware that everyone is born with natural cancer-fighting mechanisms in his body. A healthy diet, physical fitness and proper stress management may build up the human body’s natural cancer-protecting mechanisms while early detection and treatment can lead to a good chance of cure for cancer.

The Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) Facts and Estimates show that lung cancer, followed closely by breast cancer, remains to be the most prevalent case in the country.

"At least a third of all cancers can be cured if detected early and most cancers are actually preventable with proper healthy lifestyle," the study said.

With modern medicine and technology, however, there are various breakthroughs in cancer treatment available that give patients renewed appreciation of life – as productive and meaningful as what they had before they were diagnosed.

The study revealed that cancer continues to kill because majority of cancer patients are diagnosed at an incurable stage.

"Everyone should develop an understanding of the importance of regular medical checkups as a way to detect cancer and other diseases early enough," it said.

The PCS noted that in the country, particularly among the poor, women who find lumps or tumors in their breasts rarely seek medical advice.

"Although economic factors play an important role, a fatalistic attitude plays a major role. Many Filipinas are still not convinced that breast cancer can be cured," the study said.

Even women in the advanced stages of breast cancer can still be cured through appropriate treatment modalities and close medical surveillance.

Breast cancer, which now constitutes roughly 13.1 percent of all cancer cases, will afflict 14,043 people next year and would continue to rank as the top cancer site among women.

Colorectal cancer, on the other hand, ranks sixth overall, fifth among males and seventh among females. This disease increases markedly after age 50.

Evidence suggests that colorectal cancer may be linked to a diet high in fat and deficient in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Candidates for colorectal cancer include those with personal or family history of the disease, polyps in the colon and inflammatory bowel disease.

The signs include a change in bowel habits, recurrent diarrhea and constipation, particularly with the presence of abdominal discomfort, weight loss, unexplained anemia, and blood in the stool.

Unfortunately, early colorectal cancer is asymptomatic, and there is still no efficient screening method for early detection.

Early diagnosis of asymptomatic patients should focus on those who complain of changes in bowel habits, vague abdominal pains, and unexplained weight loss and anemia, particularly among patients aged 50 and above, by means of barium enema or colonoscopy.

Early colorectal cancer is curable, and surgery is the most effective method of treatment.

The mistaken obsession of many physicians with amoebiasis and other forms of inflammatory bowel diseases had for decades been a major factor that had delayed diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

The wide availability of antidiarrheals, antibiotics, and amoebicides may have worsened the situation.

Too many physicians still insist on giving vitamin preparations and hematinics for chronic unexplained weight loss and anemia without carefully looking for the cause. While surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the most utilized means of curing early cancers, recent breakthroughs in cancer detection and treatment have led to a more effective, less painful and more promising approach to deal with the disease.

The future direction in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment is leaning toward a less painful, non-invasive and faster recovery time approach.

The trends in focused ultrasound, microwave thermotherapy, laser therapy, cryosurgery, radiofrequency ablation and targeted systemic therapy and chemotherapy, among others, hold much promise for cancer patients.

The latest updates and developments in cancer diagnosis and treatment will be thoroughly discussed during the First International Symposium on Breast and Colorectal Cancer this Oct. 19-20 at the Garden Ballroom of the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

This will be a joint project of the world’s oldest and largest cancer center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York, St. Luke’s Medical Center.

For details, contact St. Luke’s at 723-0101 local 4122 or 4123, or e-mail at [email protected].