Cancer is the leading factor that drives thousands of our patients to seek healthcare abroad bypassing local doctors and undertake the hassle of going far off place. Prompt diagnosis of the extent of the disease, multidisciplinary cancer treatment facilities and latest technology — all attract our affluent society to seek overseas treatment.
This is the tale of a very few number of our cancer patients. The main bulk are coping with this fatal disease treated by limited cancer service here which needs to be boost up.
Two eminent foreign cancer specialists who came to Bangladesh for a short visit and were interviewed by Star Health. They shared their experience and focused the light of knowledge on different aspects of cancer diagnosis, treatment, care and support.
Dr Toh Han Chong is a medical oncologist (cancer specialist) working as a senior consultant and deputy head of National Cancer Centre, Singapore. He successfully treated our popular singer Sabina Yasmin who suffered from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a cancer of lymphatic system).
Dr Yong Wei Sean is the consultant of surgical oncology of National Cancer Centre, Singapore. As a breast surgeon, he revealed modern treatment modalities.
Star Health (SH): What is the picture of cancer incidence in this region?
DR Toh: Overall cancer incidence in Asia is rising. Changing lifestyles, dietary habit, environmental changes, demographics, public awareness and detection at late stage — all contribute to escalate. The prevalence of specific type of cancer varies from country to country. Cervical cancer in female is more prevalent in Bangladesh.
SH: What initiates people to seek foreign health services?
DR Toh: Living with cancer is very frightening. There is constant fear of not getting proper treatment since management of cancer is not standard in all countries. When someone needs specialised and immediate treatment which is not available locally s/he should obviously consider traveling abroad.
SH: Why Sabina Yasmin had to go abroad quitting local treatment?
Dr Toh: Sabina Yasmin was diagnosed correctly with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a cancer of lymph system) in Bangladesh. Treatment modalities were also right. The distinction that drove her to travel to Singapore is the treatment with state-of-the-art technologies. Her cancer was at late stage (stage-IV) and unusual in nature. She needed a second opinion and most sophisticated treatment. We have latest diagnostic tools to see the exact extent of spread of cancer and world class laboratory and most recent equipment. We treat patients with targeted cancer therapy and patient usually faces less hazards and prognosis is notable.
SH: How can we improve our existing cancer treatment?
Dr Yong: The most important thing for cancer treatment is integrated multidisciplinary approach. Setting a well equipped cancer centre seems to be ambitious for a country like Bangladesh. But considering the pain and sufferings of the people, the country needs a sophisticated cancer centre. Resource, skilled manpower are also prerequisite for the improvement.
SH: How can we prevent cancer and lessen the pain?
Dr Yong: In the context of Bangladesh prevention, screening programmes should be underscored. Nationwide cancer screening, awareness building and early diagnosis are very important. For example, in breast cancer simple mammography and untrasonography help detect cancer early. Most of the cancers are curable if they are diagnosed early. No tobacco use, diet, nutrition and exercise, sun safety and vaccination against cancer-causing viruses — all play significant role in reducing cancer risks. Simple changes in lifestyle can be taken to reduce cancer risk.
SH: What are the modern advances practiced in breast cancer treatment?
Dr Yong: Instead of removing the whole breast, we now usually perform modified or partial breast surgery which has aesthetic value and is less hazardous for the patients; and also we give targeted radiotherapy that bypasses the hassle of ionising radiation that occur in conventional methods. Breast surgery and reconstruction performed in the same surgical session are convenient for the patients.
SH: Thank you.