‘Cancer is completely curable if diagnosed early’

'Any kind of cancer can be cured if diagnosed early.  Gone are the days when we thought cancers are incurable and the patient is destined to death. It's the time to debunk the myths on cancer and eradicate the factors causing it' said Dr. Neelamani Paranagama, Director, National Cancer Control Programme during the press release organised for World Cancer Day: February 4, 2014 which carries the theme.

In explaining the situation in Sri Lanka, Consultant Community Physician Dr. Suraj Perera said: 'Oral cancer holds the first place among the common cancers of men in Sri Lanka while breast cancer is the most common among women. The number of patients with other cancers such as lung cancer, cervical cancer oesophagus cancer, thyroid gland cancer etc. are also increasing day by day. In Sri Lanka the number of cancer patients registered in 2013 was reported to be 25, 515(may contain duplicate entries) and deaths per year are 10,386(2006). The reason for the number of deaths due to cancer in developing countries to be more than that of developed countries is, that people in developed countries test and diagnose cancers early and receive treatments where people in developing countries are sunken in myths on cancer'.





" The number of patients with other cancers such as lung cancer, cervical cancer oesophagus cancer, thyroid gland cancer etc. are also increasing day by day "





'Reasons causing cancer are dwelling with us. Smoking, alcohol, betel, tobacco, lime are the major causes for cancer. People should be aware that betel, tobacco, aricanut and lime chewing practiced in rural areas is very harmful and have resulted in oral cancer.' Director General of Health Dr. Palitha Maheepala pointed out.
'We conduct awareness programmes, supply a lot of facilities and medicine, introduce equipments of diagnose cancers early, train human resources on cancer diagnose and treatment in different parts of the country. Well Women Clinic Programmes, 'Suva Divi' Centres, 9 Cancer Units in each General Hospital, Unit of Primary Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer, Narahenpita and Cancer Hospital Maharagama have been established to serve cancer patients.  People must make an effort to visit any of these cancer centres and get done pathological tests for cancer.  Since prevention is always better than cure, people must maintain good lifestyles and get checkups on cancer.' He further said: 'Most of the cancers can be prevented by changing lifestyles. By stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, not chewing betel, tobacco, aricanut and lime, exercising regularly, not eating fatty food, eating healthy diets, bring to a halt the usage of chemicals and artificial food like sausages and meatballs and by controlling mental stress, anyone can be away from cancer ' Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga, Deputy Director General, (Medical Services) Ministry of Health mentioned.  The website www.nccp.gov.lk and the hotline 0715320320 which were launched on January 30, 2014 are open for the public to bring up any question related to cancer.

According to national Cancer Control Programme, 1/3 of cancers are preventable, 1/3 can be completely curable if diagnosed early and the other 1/3 can be treated. Therefore debunk the futile myths on cancer and visit the closest cancer unit and get tests done for cancer trusting the fact that cancer is completely curable if diagnosed early.




BREAST CANCER
'1.4 million breast cancer patients are diagnosed ever year in the world. Breast cancer can be completely cured if diagnosed early ' stated Consultant Community Physician Dr. Chiranthika Vithana.

'If there's a change of shape in breasts, if there's a lump or a rash on breasts, of a liquid other than milk is secreted through the breasts, if there's a change in nipple, if the breast skin has turned to something like an orange peel and if there's an abnormal bend or a curve in breasts, one must immediately test for breast cancer. ' Dr. Vithana described.

 'Those who have a family history with breast cancer or ovule ailments, those with an earlier ailment in breasts, those with a high number of menses circles (those attended before 11 years & those who had periods continued after 55 years), women who haven't given birth to kids, women who haven't given breast milk, those who gave the first birth after 35 years and those who receive Hormone Replacement Therapy (Those with a family history on breast cancer mustn't receive this treatment) for a long term have a high possibility of having a breast cancer' Dr. Vithana further stated.

In explaining the process of self-testing for breast cancer, she said, 'Every woman must check breasts once a month. Those having monthly periods must examine breasts after one week of the last day of the period cycle and those who have stopped having periods must examine breasts on a specific day of every month. For that you must observe bare breasts in a mirror or press and examine left breast and armpit with right hand, right breast and armpit with left hand to check for lumps and liquid secretion.'

'Fatty food, less consumption of fruits and vegetables, less exercises, addiction to alcohol and smoking increase the risk for having breast cancer. A woman of 20-40 years must get the breast tests once in every three years and a woman above 40 years must test once a year' she added. 'Therefore visit the closest Well Woman Clinic, 'Suva Divi' Centers, a doctor, a cancer unit of a hospital or Unit of Primary Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer, Narahenpita and tests for breast cancer because if diagnosed early, breast cancer is completely curable.' Dr. Dr. Chiranthika Vithana concluded.




CERVICAL CANCER
'Cervical cancer is increasing day by day and one woman died every two minutes due to cervical cancer. Of your urinary system has an unusual secretion of blood and stinky liquid and if you have blood secretion continuing even after menses period, you must tests for cervical cancer.' Stated Dr. Nethranjali Mapitigama, Consultant Community Physician.

'Every woman of 35 years must test for cervical cancer. If you have the symptoms or if you want to be aware about cervical cancer visit a Well Woman Clinic, 'Suva Divi' Centres, a doctor, a cancer unit of a hospital or Unit of Primary Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer, Narahenpita to be on the safe side' she added.




ORAL CANCER
'Oral Cancer is the most common cancer among men and it holds the highest death rate among deaths due to cancer.' Consultant Community Physician Dr. Hemantha Amarasinghe mentioned.

 'Chewing of betel with aricanut or aricanut packets, tobacco and lime, smoking, taking alcohol, nutrient deficiency, unclean mouths, and Human Papilloma virus infection cause oral cancer. Those who chew betel more than three times per day; those above 30 years who chew 1-3 betel per day, smoke and take alcohol at least once a week; those who chew ariconut packets have a greater tendency for having oral cancer. ' Dr. Amarasinghe explained.

'If there are lasting red/white patches in your mouth that don't cause pain, if there's a soreness and roughness in lips, if there's an incurable wound in the mouth or if there's a difficulty in opening the mouth, you have symptoms of oral cancer. Therefore you must immediately visit a doctor or a cancer unit and get tests done' he added. 'At home, you could check for any change in your mouth by examining both sides of lips, walls of the mouth and all parts of the tongue' he concluded.