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Summary Cancer is more than 90 percent curable disease if it is diagnosed in time.
This was said by eminent oncologists at Shifa International Hospital on Saturday while addressing a seminar organized on the World Cancer Day on Fen 04.Renowned scientist and Member Science & Technology, Planning Commission of Pakistan and former Chairman National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) Dr Sammar Mubarakmand said that smoking is leading cause of cancer in countries like Pakistan.He urged upon the masses to quit smoking and tobacco use in any form in order to prevent cancer spread.The oncologists were of the view that cancer is a dreaded disease but it has emerged more like a chronic disease than a fatal disorder.Consultant Medical Oncologist SIH Dr. Kamran Rasheed, Consultant Radiation Oncologist SIH Dr. Muhammad Ali Afridi, Consultant Surgeon Dr. Badarus Salam and Consultant Medical Specialist Dr. Matiur Rehman gave their presentations on cancer, its causes, its treatment, symptoms and prevalence on this occasion.While giving their presentations the experts informed that cancer was rapidly spreading in developing countries like Pakistan. They said that cancer would become a commonest cause of death by 2020. “41.21% of men and women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of all sites at some time during their lifetime,” Dr. Kamran Rasheed said. He said the median age at diagnosis for cancer of all sites was 66 years of age.He said cancer is any cell in the body which has become immortal and whose growth has become unchecked. It has the tendency to spread in different parts of the body. He said cancer could be treated through various methods including surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and bone marrow transplant. But prevention is better than cure, he emphasised.Dr Afridi said more than 10 million people in the world become victim of this disease every year. People over 30 years of age are more vulnerable to this disease. It is estimated that around 0.2 million people become cancer patient in Pakistan every year.Thickening or lump in the body particularly in breast among women, an injury that is not healing, unusual bleeding or discharge, indigestion or trouble swallowing, irritating cough and hoarseness, weight loss, hunger loss and fever are some of the symptoms of cancer and one must go for cancer tests and biopsy with the suggestion of cancer expert if he or she feels development of any of such symptoms, he said.Dr. Matiur Rehman observed smoking and use of tobacco in other forms including pan, gutka, chaliya etc are main causes of many types of cancers. Only smoking causes an estimated 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent of all lung cancer deaths in women. Quit use of tobacco and you can control 30 percent cancer spread, he said.Dr. Badarus Salam said cancer is an uncontrolled division of cells resulting in an abnormal growth. He said it can be cured if detected and treated in time. He said tobacco and smoking, alcohol, inactive lifestyle, unhealthy diet, obesity, infections and sun exposure are some of the causes of cancer that can be managed to avoid cancer.He stressed on the need of diagnosing cancer at early stages particularly at stage 1 saying, “early detection means less invasive treatment, less trauma, less pain, less cost, early stage - curable disease. So it pays to be vigilant.”He informed that a new study has found that many malignancies could be prevented by exercising, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. Dr. Badar suggested getting an annual cancer screening and living an active and simple life to not get sick and become cancer patient. --Online
