The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.113)

TZU CHI 113 09 colorectal cancer is detectedmost widely among males, followed by lung cancer, lymphoma, nasopharyngeal cancer and prostate cancer. Dr Ivan Shew Yee Siang, an oncologist at a private hospital who is also a member of TIMA and the medical team of the Cancer Support Group, pointed out that relying on the tumour biomarker level, derived from the blood test results in generic health screenings, to make a cancer diagnosis is likely to be less accurate. There is the possibility of a patient recording a low tumour biomarker level, yet is actually susceptible to cancer, or a patient with an inherently low tumour biomarker level registering a high reading due to the influence of other underlying factors. The purpose of health or cancer screenings is to detect cancer in its early stages to facilitate timely treatment and improve chances of recovery. Depending solely on tumour biomarker tests without undergoing proper cancer screenings is less conducive in detecting the onset of cancer. Furthermore, misplaced trust in alternative remedies or unreliable information gleaned from online sources is likely to cause a delay in treatment. Timeliness is key in administering cancer treatment, as a patient’s condition might deteriorate rapidly from a more benign cancer in its preliminary stages to irreversibly malignant end-stage cancer within a mere few months. Early detection of cancer affords patients more flexibility in treatment options, in addition to reduced risk of side effects from treatment. In Malaysia, the number of patients diagnosed with 3rd or 4th stage cancer significantly surpasses that of Singapore and the US, culminating in a relatively high mortality rate among cancer patients. Seeking appropriate treatment Dr Shew graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, and was awarded a Fellowship by the Royal College of Radiologists in London, UK. He has also worked as a researcher at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore, specializing in radiation oncology and chemotherapy oncology. He currently serves as an oncologist at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur, with 13 years of experience in the field of oncology under his belt. He observed that cancer treatments have progressed by leaps and bounds over the past decade or so. For instance, the advent of treatment options such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy has proven highly effective in keeping cancer cells under control, while radiotherapy techniques have advanced from 2D and 3D to the latest computerized technology. As part of the Cancer Support Group, Dr Shew has delivered talks on various cancer- related topics, as well as offered answers to queries from cancer patients and their families. He noted that cancer patients tend to pay more attention to the practical aspects of cancer treatment, such as the feasibility of food therapy for cancer and its side effects, financial considerations and dietary concerns. “Seeking cancer treatment at a private practice generally costs a fortune, so if the attending doctor fails to take the patient’s financial situation into consideration, the patient might eventually end up in trouble. In the event the patient’s funds run dry, treatment might have to be delayed,” he cautioned. Dr Shew stressed that there is no one- size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment, as the circumstances of every patient are unique. A panel of oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, CarryingOn with Cancer