Studies on cancer treatment are undoubtedly one of the most emphasized issues in the 21st century. Pointing out that there have been very important developments in this difficult journey, Medical Oncology expert Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven said that according to studies, cancer-related deaths have decreased by 30 percent in the last 30 years. He attributed this result to effective results from new treatments as well as the development of screening methods.
Stating that in 2022, 1.9 million new cancer cases and over 600 thousand cancer-related deaths were reported in the USA, Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven pointed out that there has been a decrease in cancer-related deaths in the last 30 years. Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Medical Oncology specialist Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven said, “We can say that this important progress in cancer, which is one of the most important health problems in the whole world, is due to the increase in the life span of patients with early diagnosis with screening methods and new treatments, even in a cancer with a very mortal course such as lung cancer.” he spoke. He gave the following information about treatments that help achieve satisfactory results in cancer treatment.
CANCER DNA CAN BE DETECTED!
Stating that in recent years, it is possible to diagnose cancer at an early stage by detecting cancer DNA in a simple blood test with the liquid biopsy method, Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven said, “Detecting the genetic defect in this circulating cancer cell and giving direct targeted therapies has extended the survival in many cancer types, especially lung cancer.” Emphasizing that despite these developments, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death by causing more than 350 deaths a day all over the world. Dr. Bala Başak Öven continued her words as follows: “Smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer. Therefore, since the important point is to prevent the development of the disease, it will be to stay away from cigarettes, the use of which is increasing despite all the efforts.”
“NEW TREATMENT METHODS BEGIN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER”
Stating that apart from smart drugs, new treatment methods such as immunotherapy have been used in the last 10 years, Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven explained the following:
“With immunotherapy, the body’s immune system is stimulated to fight cancerous cells, while normal cells are not harmed. Therefore, side effects due to chemotherapy are not observed. Again, with CART cell therapy, which is one of the new treatment methods, it is possible to separate T cells, which are immune system cells, from the blood of the person, process them in a laboratory environment, and reintroduce them to fight cancer cells. Today, this method is mostly used in leukemia patients. In addition, studies on the use of mRNA vaccines used against COVID 19 in cancer continue in our country.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR
prof. Dr. According to the information given by Bala Başak Öven, screening and preventive treatment strategies used in healthy people to reduce the incidence of cancer are widely used all over the world. Reminding that in 2019, 51 percent of men and 36 percent of women in the world, cancer cases are associated with environmental, metabolic and behavioral risk factors as the cause of death. Dr. Oven continued his words as follows:
“Although smoking is one of these risk factors, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, obesity can be counted as other modifiable risk factors. Counseling is an important part of preventive medicine to reduce these modifiable risk factors.”
“SCANNING METHODS ARE RECOMMENDED AS STANDARD FOR MANY CANCERS”
Underlining that all over the world and in our country, screening methods are recommended as standard for bowel cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer in women, and lung cancer in high-risk people who have smoked for more than 30 years. Dr. Öven said, “The benefit of screening in pancreatic cancer, one of the most feared cancers, is not clear. However, in the screening study, which included 1731 patients with a family history and high risk for pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cancer was detected at an earlier stage in screening with frequent imaging methods, and survival was found to be longer. Said.
EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT IN BOTH PROTECTION AND TREATMENT
Reminding that the importance of regular exercise in preventing cancer has been demonstrated by many studies, Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Oncology specialist Prof. Dr. Bala Başak Öven also stated that exercise is important during treatment. “The American Cancer Society recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to reduce fatigue in cancer patients. These can be brisk walking, cycling, swimming. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, reduces fatigue, and regulates sleep disorders in patients receiving chemotherapy. In patients with lung cancer, regular exercise before the operation reduces the length of hospital stay and postoperative complications. he spoke.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
