1 in 5 people in the world will become ill with some type of cancer during their lifetime, experts said in the framework of the World Cancer Research Day.
1 in 5 people in the world will get cancer: By 2040 at least 28 million new cases will be detected
The Mexican oncologist, Luis Alberto Suárez, indicated in a press conference that it is expected that by 2040 at least 28 million new cases of cancer will be detected in Latin America alone. Reason why he called on the health authorities to give a broader approach to the disease.
In the same sense, he indicated that the different types of cancer are one of the great challenges of modern times. Like breast cancer, which has been of particular concern due to the survival rate of patients who survive cancer after diagnosis. It has been kept for decades between 2 and 4 years.
Breast cancer second cause of death in women
In himself, he highlighted that breast cancer continues to be the second most frequent cause of death for women. And he highlighted that at least “a third of women with breast cancer die from the disease.”
He also addressed the annual rate of cancer diagnoses and highlighted that breast cancer cases are increasing globally. Including Latin America, where the figure for breast cancer is close to 300 thousand annually.
Cancer represents a challenge for Latin America
In the same sense, Luciana Holtz, president and founder of the Brazilian Oncology Institute He pointed out that cancer still represents a challenge for Latin America given the stigmas that permeate the population regarding cancer.
He pointed out that the population should continue to be aware of the risks of cancer in order to eliminate stigmata. And that people can get timely medical care.
Health systems remain ineffective
On the other hand, he pointed out that in this region, health systems are still ineffective, in addition to the fact that access to diagnosis and treatment is complicated and expensive.
Isabelle Aloi, president and founder of Salvati in Mexico, lamented that people are still dying from cancer due to lack of access to treatments.
He said that the pandemic exacerbated this scenario, as many people did not reach the diagnosis or did so later and later. Due to the fear of going to hospitals and getting infected.
AMLO changed the health system
In addition, in Mexico, since the arrival of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, at the end of 2018, the health system has changed “and people did not know how to get around, how to get there and they lost a lot of time,” he admitted.
Alejandra Toro, director of resource management and projects for the Querida Salud de Colombia foundation, said that inviting people to go out during the pandemic and get check-ups was an immense challenge for patient organizations.
“If there were already barriers, now there are more because the world has gone digital and not all patients are digital,” he said.
He indicated that now the task is to educate the patient so that they do not waste time “and that more women can be alive for longer after the diagnosis.”
However, the activists pointed out that the joint work of patients, specialists, associations and governments is important so that these gaps are closed and thus there is a more timely diagnosis.
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