Dear Friends and Patrons of SDF,
This is to thank you all for keeping that day of 27th Sunday November as top priority to participate in the seminar on Cancer addressed by Hon Justice Dr Naryana Kurup, Mr Joy P Jacob ( CEO of MOSC Medical College),Dr Aju Mathew the international medical oncologist, Dr TA Varkey, Dr PO Abrham and Dr Mathew Abraham.
Your participation and personal presence made a huge positive difference to make the seminar a success. We also thank you for taking an active part in the post – seminar dinner interactions among the participants.
You are very dear to us in the SDF. You provide us with additional fuel to run further effectively.
We make an appeal to all our friends and patrons without any offense aimed at any one. If you consider SDF as your priority, please do keep your appointment with us firm and non – tradable for other causes , unless it is a medical emergency or a death related emergency.
We got during the last couple of times some of our confirmed long-time patrons assigning last minute very flimsy excuses and seeking leave of absence. (family tour or wedding eve parties despite confirming the participation well in advance). Surely you know your priorities better than us.Yet you make us weak in our enthusiasm inadvertently and dampen our spirits.
If you consider SDF is your last priority–if you got nothing else to do then attend– kindly change that attitude as you are our most valued patrons if you feel that SDF seminars are of any use to you and your dear ones please. I am sorry for being very blunt and seek your forgiveness if I have hurt your feelings.
Please find below the gist of the deliberations of the last seminar.
SDF wishes you all Merry Chrisitmas and happy New Year 2023
Sincerely yours
Dr KM George
President SDF 30th Nov, 2022.
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Summary of the deliberations of the 151st seminar of SDF held on 27th Sunday November at Mel Mana Gardens –Ooramana—Kerala –India
Theme of the seminar : Are we facing a Cancer Pandemic?
Dr. Aju Mathew started off his talk by suggesting that although we are currently not seeing a cancer pandemic, we may face one in the future, if we do not take the necessary steps to curtail the risk factors for cancer. The major reason for a palpable rise in numbers of cancers in our society is because of the demographic pattern. We are an aging society and cancer is a disease most common in the elderly. However, the rate of lifestyle related cancers are also rising. Lifestyle changes that can put someone at a higher risk for cancer are mainly tobacco use, alcohol use and poor healthy habits like lack of exercise and poor diet (especially greater consumption of processed food). Dr Mathew suggested that the field of cancer medicine has progressed tremendously. Although we know cancer chemotherapy cures lives, we need much more targeted therapies that can precisely kill cancer. The good part is that such therapy is now accessible even in our town. We must also emphasize cancer prevention using prudent screening strategies, lifestyle modifications and improving early diagnosis. Dr Mathew discussed various new approaches to tackle cancer using immunotherapy strategies that harness the immune system to kill cancer. Finally, he answered several common questions in a very lucid manner.
Details of the speaker:
Dr. Aju Mathew
MBBS (Trivandrum), MD (USA), Diplomate of American Board (Med Onc, Hemat, Int Med), MPhil (Cambridge), FACP (USA)
American Board certified (Internal Medicine, Haematology, Med Oncology) (Uni of Pittsburgh)
Consultant, Ernakulam Medical Centre & MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery, Kerala, India
Detailed Report of the seminar on cancer provided by Dr. PO Abraham and Dr. BJ Meledom:
Report:
Definition. A disease due to mutation of cells wherein abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissues.
Cancer is an age related disease. Most cancers take years to develop, and often occur in people as they get older. This long process is due to the cell’s protective mechanisms to keep cancer from developing. However, as cells age, the chance of accumulating harmful mutations increases and cancer cells can start to grow.
Even though there is an increase in the number of cancer cases, there is no increase in the rate of incidence. For example the incidence of breast in Kerala is 35/100,000, whereas it is 5 times more in the western countries.
What are the causes of cancer?
1. Tobacco. : Use of tobacco is the greatest threat. Even nicotine-emitting electronic devices are now available in India. Use of tobacco by women in the population is increasing. People consider cancer as a social evil or stigma.
2. Liquor. : There is a common feeling among the public that consumption of alcohol in small quantities is not injurious to health. But it may lead a person to addiction and moreover the addiction level differs from person to person. Alcoholism is one of the main contributory causes for the development of cirrhosis of liver and a cirrhotic liver is a fertile soil for the cancer cells to invade aggressively. Another pathetic fact of this habit is that 54%of the cancer due to consumption of liquor is found among the people at the rock bottom level (people below poverty line) of the society.
3. Lifestyle. Obesity due to faulty diet and lack of exercise is a contributing cause. The incidence of colon cancer is increasing in India and especially in Kerala. So it is always better to avoid refined food and try to include sufficient fruits and vegetables in the diet, so as to provide enough fibre. It is saddening to note that paediatric obesity is at an increase in Kerala.
4. Screening. Unnecessary screening need to be avoided. Frequent PSA test is not necessary unless and until it is warranted and recommended by a urologist. In South Korea there was a high incidence of thyroid cancer (88/100,00) due to unnecessary screening of Thyroid. In Kerala the rate of thyroid cancer is 6 to 13.8 per 100,000 population. This is attributed to Thorium radiation from the sand particles. Sometimes it is over diagnosed. Screening is found effective in colon cancer (colonoscopy), cervical cancer, oral cancer, “CT scan Lungs” etc. These are all meant for early detection and treatment of cancer, so as to get a high rate of cure.
5. Heredity : Hereditary predisposition for cancer need to be investigated among the close relatives. Eg: Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer.
6) Early Symptoms of Cancer
1. Change in Bowel or Bladder.
2.A sore throat that doesn’t heal
3.Unusual bleeding or discharge
4. Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere.
5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
6. Obvious changes in warts /mole.
7.Nagging cough or hoarseness
Again if you are experiencing any of these cancer symptoms, please contact a specialist to schedule an examination and screening.
“Dr. Aju Mathew informed that MOSCMC Kolenchery is happy to help you with live counselling over phone contact from any place.”
8) Treatment.
1. Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation therapy
4. Immunotherapy
5. Targeted therapy
6. Stem cell therapy or Bone marrow therapy.
Immunotherapy : uses the immune system to target and kill cancer cells and can save lives where other treatment options fail. Former American President Jimmy Carter was treated successfully with this therapy.
Targeted Therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them to grow, divide and spread.
1. He made presentations based on data and evidence .
2. Increase in incidence of cancer due to multiple reasons .
a) Life span has increased from average of 60 to 90 +
b) Use of tobacco and alcohol
c) Lifestyle changes
d) Use of ultra-processed foods
e) Environmental factors
3. Now diagnosis of cancer could be done with less invasive tests
4. Treatment of cancer could be done specifically targeting the malignant cells.
5. Cirrhosis of the liver would make the affected person extremely vulnerable to cancer .
6. Preventive strategies are extremely important in managing cancer incidence.
7. Early detection by diagnostic tests would enable the disease .
8. Most common forms of cancer are
a) Breast cancer
b) Uterus cancer
c) Prostate cancer
d) Lung cancer
e) Thyroid cancer
9. Indiscriminate diagnostic tests not desirable . In south Korea , Govt. made it mandatory to do thyroid tests for cancer and the incidence of thyroid was reported to be high. In fact, the mandatory tests for thyroid , which was not actually required , led to the report of high incidence . Tests should be done only when some symptoms are noticed .
10. New developments in cancer therapy :
More specific and targeted treatment methods are now available . Genetic engineering techniques are being developed to treat cancer and other diseases .
In Pakistan a survey conducted found a family with insignificant level of LDL cholesterol . It was found that gene which they inherited was responsible for the phenomenon . Research Institute identified the gene and through genetic engineering they are replicating the gene which would be implanted to individuals with high LDL cholesterol level.
Dr. Aju Mathew during a presentation exploded the myths of cancer and explained the facts about cancer explicitly .
Submitted by the president of SDF (Summary prepared by Dr. BJ Meledom and Dr. PO Abraham of SDF)
Dated 29th November, 2022