The more you talk about it, the weaker it gets,
WHY DON’T YOU TALK MORE ABOUT IT?
– Oh, it’s complicated, isn’t it?
It’s a very difficult subject. At home we don’t even mention it. At most, it’s “that disease”.
I see. But people need to know that that disease has a name and a cure. Also, if diagnosed early on, it has high chances of cure! If we don’t talk openly about cancer, fear and misinformation are the only things that will be left.
FEAR BLINDS.
INFORMATION SAVES!
– Yes… I see… but what is important for us to know about “that disease”?
“That disease???”
– Ok… about cancer!
Good, we’re doing better, lol. To begin with, we cannot shut our eyes to reality. We call lifetime risk expectation of developing some kind of disease over a lifetime. In the case of cancer, this figure is high. According to American and UK forecasts, 50%.
That is, one out of two people may develop some type of cancer at some point in life.
– Jesus! Knock on wood!
No, no, no! We shouldn’t knock on wood; we should hit upon this matter. We should hit upon more information!
Excluding genetic factors, did you know that this figure ends up being so high also because of our lifestyle?
ABOUT 40% OF CANCERS COULD BE PREVENTED WITH GOOD HABITS
This is because practicing physical exercises combined with a healthy diet is also the good old recipe here.
This is because practicing physical exercises combined with a healthy diet is also the good old recipe here.
– Does that mean that if I go to the gym regularly and eat healthier, I’ll get away with it?
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee. But there is one thing:
THOSE WHO FIND OUT EARLY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING CURED!
Some signs may suggest the development of a cancer and require medical evaluation: blood loss in urine or feces, growth of any part of the body, sharp weight loss not related to a diet and suspicious blemishes or spots on the skin (learn how to identify them here) are some examples.
In addition, there are several tests that can be performed to treat the disease when it has not shown the symptoms yet. These are the so-called screening examinations: mammography, colonoscopy, Pap smear, ultrasound, etc. These tests have general indications for the population and specific recommendations according to the family history of each individual.
– Got it! And what are the chances of cure when we discover cancer early?
About 90%! In the case of breast cancer, 95%! Amazing, isn’t it? In more advanced cases, the chances decrease, of course, but…
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO BE OPTIMISTIC!
Immunotherapy
Considered by some doctors as the main advancement already achieved against cancer, it is a type of treatment that aims to fight the progression of the disease by activating the patient’s own immune system against it.
The idea is that, with the use of medications, the body will be able to fight cancer by itself. Not all cancers can be treated via immunotherapy, but patients with bladder, kidney and lung cancer, leukemia, head and neck cancer, melanomas and Hodgkin’s lymphomas already benefit from this breakthrough!
Radiation Therapy with CyberKnife
Radiosurgery is not a new treatment, but thanks to CyberKnife, it has gained even more resoluteness. The device, exclusive to the D’Or Star Network in Brazil, has its linear accelerator connected to a robotic arm and is used to treat injuries to the skull and other regions of difficult access.
The equipment allows the radiation to be applied from more angles and to follow the position of the tumor in real time, bringing more accuracy to the treatment.
This way, CyberKnife is able to better preserve healthy tissues around the tumor, reducing side effects and reducing treatment time.
Robotic Surgery
When the surgery is the chosen method of treatment, precision is determinant for success. Da Vinci is a revolutionary robotic system for minimally invasive procedures that allows the control of the robotic arms to precisely and safely command the clamps inside the patient during the procedure.
In parallel, high-definition cameras allow wide viewing of the organs and structures to be addressed. Thus, it is possible to perform difficult removals in a less rheumatic way for the patient, making recovery faster and less painful.
Personalized Therapy
Here we talk about treating the tumor according to the mutation that gave rise to cancer. They are more targeted drugs that usually lead to better results, with fewer adverse effects.
TO SUMMARIZE…
It is necessary to know the cancer, as one out of two people will develop it.
It is necessary to talk about it without fear, since it has a high chance of cure when diagnosed early.
And it is necessary to take action, because good habits and updated exams save lives!
AND NOW, LET’S TALK,
SOME MORE ABOUT IT?
– Sure!