Joseph Cassar
Cancer: A priority on health agenda
Some people fear to call cancer by name; others refuse to even talk about it. Many would rather not know whether they have cancer and even refuse screening.
Cancer brings with it fear of the unknown but many do not realise that today life expectancy has gone up from five years to 10 years and in the case of some cancers that are diagnosed and treated early there is also a high chance of complete cure.
In simple terms, cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that develop across time and involve the uncontrolled division of the body’s cells. Although cancer can develop in virtually any of the body’s tissues and each type of cancer has its unique features, the basic processes that produce cancer are quite similar in all forms of the disease.
Today, cancer is the disease that is on the top of the health agenda of all the countries of Europe and the wider world. Collective efforts, collaboration and joint forces across borders are leading to huge developments in the initial diagnosis and, consequently, therapeutic care for cancer patients with very good results.
Currently, about one in three people in the Maltese islands will develop cancer at some stage in their lives and one in four will die of the disease. There are about 1,500 new cases of cancer listed in the Malta National Cancer Register annually and something like 800 deaths are attributed to cancer every year in Malta.
These figures illustrate very clearly what a serious a challenge the prevalence of cancer is in our country. We all know that these figures present a close to mirror-image of the situation prevailing in many European countries, a reflection of the situation in most countries across the globe!
Over the last two decades there has been a steady development of actions taken to combat cancer in Malta. These actions encompass the four vertical pillars of cancer control: primary prevention, secondary prevention, integrated care (including palliative care and psycho-oncology) and research. All these components are covered in depth in the National Cancer Plan 2011-2015 launched last February, which is being supported by a budget of €12 million.
The overarching approach of the National Cancer Plan is to put cancer patients and their families at the centre of the health system. With the support of the European Union, a new oncology hospital is well on its way to serve the needs of the country.
These are all initiatives being taken by the ministry I steer, by the government of this country. We take much pride in what we are committed to as a country but we also fully appreciate that we need to work closely with other countries, to pool resources, to travel together in our journeys that seek to address the challenges posed by this disease.
For the size of our population, these figures are more than a valid reason for us to focus on cancer and work strategically to fight it with all our strength! I have made it my personal goal (as a minister) to work in the field of oncology and cancer and really make a difference in the lives of many patients and their families.
Some 50 per cent of cancers are preventable by choosing a healthy lifestyle. Also, early diagnosis gives a much better chance of cure and a better quality of life. We (as a ministry) are making our efforts to reach out to all our citizens through information, education and screening.
I strongly appeal to all members of our society to be aware of our free services and make good use of them. We can only fight cancer collectively and not individually. We must always keep in mind that, as British journalist John Diamond said: “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.”
Dr Cassar is Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care.
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Mr John M Grima
Jul 6th 2011, 15:47
We must also keep in mind that, CANCER IS MAN-MADE. The purchasing of a Tthermogram machine, (instead of another useless and unsafe Mammagram machine), would be a great asset in early detection.
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Jun 29th 2011, 20:09
Interesting Article
Striking is the statement
"Some 50 per cent of cancers are preventable by choosing a healthy lifestyle"
Simple measures reduce the risk of developing Cancer
Most people would know that:-
Stopping smoking is the single most important measure an individual can take to improve health and decrease the risk of cancer
Excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer.
How many would know that:-
1. Drinking Milk on a regular basis from childhood reduces the risk of Bowel Cancer by up 40%
2. Obesity leads to higher risk of Breast Cancer – losing weight and cutting fat intake reduces the risk
3. Moderate exercise reduces the risk of Cancer --- besides giving other benefits.
4. Olive Oil reduces the incidence of certain types of Breast Cancer (HER + Type)
5. Pesticides kill Pests as well as People – Pesticides are associated with lymphoma and other types of cancer
6. Fruit should be washed well --- to remove surface pesticides
7. Salt can double the risk of Stomach Cancer – (besides raising your Blood Pressure)
8. Viruses can cause cancer Hepatitis B and C cause (liver) HPV cervix, Helicobacter pylori stomach
Prevention is better than cure.
I am in favour of strengthening the information campaign
What you don’t know can kill you.
Dr Frank Portelli
G Debono
Jun 29th 2011, 14:54
The authoritative report “Health Aspects of Air Pollution with Particulate Matter, Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide” drawn up by a WHO working group in January 2003 concluded as follows: Long-term exposure to current ambient particulate concentrations may lead to a marked reduction in life expectancy. The reduction in life expectancy is primarily due to increased cardio-pulmonary and lung cancer mortality. Increases are likely in lower respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function in children, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and reduced lung function in adults.
Dr Cassar is quoted as saying “Over the last two decades there has been a steady development of actions taken to combat cancer in Malta” but without telling us what these were.
There has been no evidence of any concern about our serious pollution – predominantly from diesel-driven vehicles. For two decades the public has been exposed to blatant particulate pollution from our old buses; even if these buses are replaced by cleaner buses, there will still be pollution from heavy transport vehicle and private buses, many of which emit black smoke as well.
Even if the situation improves, the harm has been done. The harm has been especially inflicted on the new growing generation who have now been exposed to so much pollution. This has laid the seeds of cancer in their lungs and the effect of this will become apparent when they reach middle age.
The findings of the American Cancer Society - and all the surveys that subsequently confirmed the original findings - would indicate that we have yet to see a steep rise in cancer in our younger generations. This will be thanks to the complacency of our Health Authority who have done nothing for years about the illegal pollution from buses, heavy transport and many diesel-driven cars.
Very little has been done about the real threat from traffic pollution and our Health and Environment Authorities continue to be complacent about toxic traffic emissions of so many vehicles which continue to emit visible black smoke.
Ms Rose Cilia
Jun 29th 2011, 10:22
In my opinion , the minister should stop beating around the bush and tell the public which foods and other products should be avoided if one is serious in reducing the chance of getting cancer. These include food items that are' ready to serve' in minutes, foods with a long list of preservatives and colourings including drinks and toiletery products which are being applied to the body in excessive, especially by our youngsters. We need to go back to eating more raw fruits and vegetables (preferably organic) if we want to avoid not just cancer but also other diseases and conditions such as ADHD ,autism ,Alzeihmers etc as these have been linked to nutrional deficiences which are caused by eating the wrong foods on regular basis.
Lucy Calleja
Jun 29th 2011, 15:14
Ms Cilia, you're quite right. And, besides diet and lifestyle, nothing kills or starts illness faster than stress.