The importance of early detection and right treatment when fighting cancer

Early detection for cancer is still the best way to improve possible treatment outcomes and ultimately, increase the chances of survival. This was the message of Dr. Zee Ying Kiat, a Senior Consultant of Medical Oncology at Parkway Cancer Center, a Singapore-based institution specializing on cancer treatment, during a recent media briefing in Manila. 

During the roundtable held at the New World Hotel in Makati City on July 30, Dr. Zee emphasized the need to regularly monitor and check for cancer especially for those who do not show symptoms yet, but who have the risks for developing the health condition due to hereditary, lifestyle, medical, and environmental factors.  

“Cancer, if undiagnosed or untreated, has the potential to grow and spread to distant organs. This, in turn, can result in symptoms and failure of the affected organ or organs,” said the Singapore-based doctor who recently visited Manila for the session.  

Parkway Cancer Center has made significant milestones in the development of precise treatment procedures and personalized treatment plans, contributing to increased survival rates for colorectal cancer patients. Dr. Zee himself is an expert in general medical oncology and has a special interest in colorectal cancer. He warns that latest research findings indicate that the number of reported cases of this type of cancer has been drastically increasing particularly in East and Southeast Asian countries.  

“Early diagnosis, even before the onset of symptoms, is crucial in allowing doctors to deliver more effective treatment with potentially higher rates of cure. This underlines the importance of screening for colorectal cancer,” he remarked.  

Effective battle vs. cancer

Optimal results, he reiterated, could “only be achieved if cancer patients receive multidisciplinary institutional care from medical specialists like the medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiologist, and pathologist, integrated with input from allied health professionals like oncology-trained nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, and counselors.” 

Dr. Zee identified the common treatment procedures that can be availed. Surgery, according to him, is still the primary treatment option—though these days, patients can choose from open surgery to minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopic surgery that reduces the pain and recovery period.  

Other available treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. These can complement surgical procedures and offer tailored approaches to destroy cancer cells and manage the condition.  

“Targeted therapies, in particular, show promise in extending the lives of patients by focusing on specific genetic mutations. This therapy approach demonstrated efficacy in numerous adult cancers, including colorectal, lung, breast, stomach, and liver cancers,” he added.  

Causes and prevention of cancer 

In general, cancer develops when normal cells turn into tumor cells in several stages. Those tumor cells could become abnormal and aggressive, eventually affecting nearby tissues and spreading to other organs or parts of the human body. The development could occur due to the interaction between genetic factors and external agents like physical carcinogens (ultraviolet radiation from the sun and ionizing radiation), chemical carcinogens (from components of tobacco smoke, alcoholic beverages, or food contaminants), and biological carcinogens (infections due to viruses, bacteria, or parasites).  

Studies show that about 30% to 50% of cancers can be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding non-hereditary risk factors, and enforcing evidence-based prevention measures. Dr. Zee clarified that hereditary cancers rarely occur as most cancers arise from unhealthy lifestyle practices. “About one in five people develop cancer, and one in 10 cancer patients dies before he/she turns 75.” 

Alarming cancer statistics 

Dr. Zee opened the media briefing (titled ‘Common Adult Cancers: Prevention, Screening, and Treatment’) by sharing new statistics on cancer. Based on an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report in 2022, about 20 million new cases of cancer were recorded with 9.7 million deaths. What is alarming is that the figure is projected to rise to 35 million cancer cases by the year 2050. 

In Southeast Asia alone, new cancer cases rose to 1.1 million and led to 700,000 deaths in 2022—with breast cancer as the most common form of cancer followed by lung and colorectal cancers.  

Parkway Cancer Center is among the specialized cancer-care institutions in Southeast Asia that have been taking action to bolster cancer prevention and treatment efforts by providing modern facilities, advanced treatment options, and comprehensive support services for patients.  

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