Oncology Conference
«Fighting cancer together: Oncologists continue their discussion during a tea break yesterday at the conference
6th Int’l Oncology Conference Cancer is more than a disease. It’s a social problem, say doctors.
From blood to bones to skin, cancer has grown from a disease into a social problem that has spread to all countries in the region.
On a cold November morning yesterday, an army of surgeons from the region came together at the Terma Linca in Thimphu to fight against cancer, the disease, which kills about 7.6M people globally every year.
Some 80 oncologists are in the country attending the two-day 6th international SAARC oncology conference to network and share research materials and data on cancer.
In Bhutan, 234 died of cancer in the last three years from the 1,385 cases reported in hospitals across the country, records show. Five of the 13 referred patients, who died in Kolkata this year since July, were at the cancer hospital.
Despite these figures and several submissions, cancer, which is one of the non-communicable diseases, has been overshadowed by diabetes and hypertension, say doctors.
No studies have been conducted so far to know the causes of cancer in Bhutan, nor a comprehensive cancer program is in place, and neither is much advocacy done.
“But if you look at the dietary habits in Bhutan, high intake of salt could be one attributing factor for stomach cancer cases, because Bhutanese are known to have salted tea, salted snacks and pickles,” oncologist at the Thimphu referral hospital Dr Tashi Dhendup said. “Other factors are less intake of fruits and vegetables.”
Salt is usually used as a preservative in dried food, meat and pickles, which is why its intake is high, he said. “My message to the people is to reduce salt intake,” he said.
But the assumption that dried meat is cancerous is yet to be proven, said both Dr Tashi Dhendup and Dr Lotay Tshering.
This dietary habit of sun-dried and fried food, including salted tea, is similar to that in Kashmir, said Prof Manzoor Ahmed, who, in his presentation on gastric carcinoma, pointed out that it’s a beautiful place with ugly dietary habits.
A doctor from Nepal, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, said early detection is important to treat cancer.
Cancer surgeons in Bhutan pointed out that it’s the lack of fund for a comprehensive cancer program that’s the causing the disease to be sidelined. Some pointed out that programs in Bhutan are more “fund” driven than “need” driven.
That Bhutan spends a lot referring cancer patients is in itself a strong basis to have a cancer program that deals with prevention more than treatment.
“We are today dealing with advanced cases and, if we can do prevention program, then in the long run it would be more effective than training a doctor to treat cancer patients,” Dr Tashi Dhendup said. “That’s why people dread the disease, because a doctor can’t do much when the cancer has advanced.”
Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Wangmo Wangchuck, who has helped cancer patients both in and outside the country, said that stomach and cervical cancers are the most common in Bhutan and that there is a need to boost early cancer diagnosis.
Health ministry officials however said that the fact they are referring and spending a lot on cancer patients is an indication of the attention they are giving.
Director general Dr Dorji Wangchuk said there was no comprehensive cancer program so far because Bhutan didn’t have cancer specialists.
“But we do have a program for cervical cancer, the tobacco program for lung cancer, endoscopy and also liver cancer,” he said. “It’s not that we aren’t giving it attention, we’re doing it on the sidelines, because there are more immediate problems that need to be dealt with.”
Health minister Zanglay Dukpa said they wouldn’t have introduced the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer had it not been important. “We’re now working on establishing a cancer registry,” Lyonpo said. “We’re giving cancer attention.”
Source: kuenselonline