Fear hinders fights against breast cancer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most Indonesian women are either too ignorant or
\ntoo afraid to check for possible breast cancer. This, says a
\nlocal oncologist, explains the prevalence of women with advanced
\nstages of breast cancer in this country.<\/p>\n
Muchlis Ramli said it is understandable if women with weak
\neducational backgrounds do not seek medical advice for symptoms
\nof breast cancer.<\/p>\n
But, Muchlis pointed out, educated women have the same
\ntendency. \"They would rather seek traditional healers although
\nsuch treatment cannot yet be justified scientifically.\"<\/p>\n
He stressed the need for a higher awareness among women to
\nconduct regular self-checks. Seeking medical advice in instances
\nof suspicious signs, he added, would help prevent the need for
\nbreast removal.<\/p>\n
Breast conserving treatment is possible only up through the
\nearliest stages of the second stadium in breast cancer, he said.<\/p>\n
The increasing prevalence of breast cancer among Indonesian
\nwomen has placed a burden on many of the country's hospitals,
\nmost of which are still too ill-equipped to deal with the
\nproblem.<\/p>\n
Muchlis was one of the speakers at Tuesday's symposium on the
\nfuture trends in breast cancer control, which was held in
\nconjunction with the international cancer conference at the
\nJakarta Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Muchlis, who heads the oncology subdivision at the state-run
\nCipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM), said the scarcity of
\nsuch facilities as mammography equipment discourages women from
\nhaving the necessary examination. \"Women have to queue for
\nexaminations like at RSCM.\"<\/p>\n
Muchlis estimates that each year Indonesia sees an addition of
\n20,000 women afflicted with breast cancer. This represents about
\n11 percent of the 180,000 new cancer patients added each year.<\/p>\n
\"Like in Japan the highest incidence is found in women between
\n40 and 49 years old,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although nationwide statistics are not yet available, Ramli
\ncited his 1988 hospital records, where breast cancer ranked first
\namong cancers detected in Padang (West Sumatra) and Ujung Pandang
\n(South Sulawesi), second in Bandung (West Java), Semarang
\n(Central Java) and Surabaya (East Java) and third in Palembang
\n(South Sumatra).<\/p>\n
The symposium participants discussed options to conventional
\nsurgery for the treatment of both breast and prostrate cancer,
\nand Muchlis was among those who stressed the importance of
\ndifferent treatments at different stages.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot apply every new method which comes along, as each
\ncondition is different,\" he said, adding that most patients in
\nIndonesia are in an advanced stage, where surgery combined with
\nmedication is still often necessary.<\/p>\n
Included in the symposium was a presentation of a pilot
\nproject in community-based cancer control being carried out in
\nthe regency of Sidoardjo, East Java. The project is being
\nspearheaded by several people, including Mrs. Basofi Sudirman,
\nthe chairwoman of the government-sponsored family welfare
\npromotion organization.<\/p>\n
The Governor, who was also present, said officials' wives will
\nalso play an important role in making such models successful.<\/p>\n
Within six months, the project, which spreads its message
\nthrough radio and cultural events, succeeded in detecting early
\nsigns of cervix cancer through papsmear tests in most of the
\n30,000 women examined.<\/p>\n
Karjadi Wirjoatmodjo, a team member that helped with the
\npresentation of the project, said he was confident that the
\nequipment for the early detection of breast cancer would soon
\nbecome more widely available. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fear-hinders-fights-against-breast-cancer-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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