Cancer occurs when the body’s cells have abnormalities in their DNA or genetic material, causing the cells to grow rapidly beyond the body’s control. This results in tissues and organs being unable to function properly. If cancer spreads to vital organs, those organs will fail and cannot function normally, ultimately leading to death. Additionally, some types of cancer can be cured if detected early.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Thailand. Every day, an average of 7 people die from cancer every hour. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of cancer patients increases by 118,600 cases annually and continues to rise. Forty percent of cancers can be prevented by reducing risky behaviors and undergoing timely screening.
7 Dangerous Signs of Cancer Development!!
- Abnormal bowel or urinary system, such as black stools or blood in urine
- Difficulty swallowing or persistent indigestion
- Hoarseness and chronic cough
- Abnormal bleeding or discharge, such as foul odor
- Non-healing wounds
- Growth of warts or moles on the body
- Lumps in the breast or other parts of the body
The most common cancers in men are liver cancer, lung colorectal and rectal cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia.
In women, the most common cancers are breast, liver, cervical, lung, colorectal, and rectal cancer. Especially colorectal and rectal cancers are increasing due to urban lifestyles, with high meat consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables, and little exercise.
Cancer Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital recognizes these issues and is committed to contributing to solving the problem. Therefore, it offers comprehensive medical services for patients, from diagnosis to effective cancer treatment, by a team of renowned doctors and trained, specialized nursing staff. The center is also equipped with modern tools and devices, providing patient care by a multidisciplinary team, resulting in highly effective treatment and improved quality of life for patients.
Cancer Risk Screening
- Assessment of hereditary cancer risk by drawing a family tree or Pedigree to evaluate the risk of cancer within the family, such as identifying women at high risk of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer.
- Physical examination to detect cancer risk
If you have any of these 7 risk symptoms, you should promptly undergo cancer screening “Early detection of cancer increases the chance of cure”
- Irregular menstruation
- Chronic wounds that do not heal
- Abnormal lumps or swelling
- Difficulty swallowing or abnormal bowel movements
- Abnormal growth of moles, warts, or birthmarks
- Chronic cough or hoarseness
During cancer screening, oncologists will take medical history and perform physical examinations, including complete blood count, urine, stool tests, chest X-rays, and abdominal ultrasound. Men will be tested for prostate cancer markers, while women will be screened for cervical and breast cancer.
Cancer Treatment
- Radiation therapy targets tumor tissue or any living tissue. Radiation directly damages the DNA of tumor cells, causing them to die and altering their structure. Treatment focuses radiation on the cancerous mass while avoiding important surrounding organs as much as possible. The medical team plans treatment before and during radiation to ensure it follows the intended plan.
- Chemotherapy is used to destroy dividing cells, whether cancerous or normal. The drugs spread throughout the body to eliminate cancer cells that have spread to other organs. Some cancers can be cured with chemotherapy, while in others, it controls the disease by shrinking tumors or preventing growth and spread. Chemotherapy for advanced cancer helps relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. The doctor decides the type and stage of cancer, side effects, and patient condition.
- Targeted therapy uses drugs or substances to inhibit cellular signaling processes that cause cancer cell growth and division. Before treatment, doctors analyze the patient’s cancer cells (Precision Medicine) using genetic or molecular data to diagnose and select treatment. This allows doctors to choose drugs that inhibit or alter abnormal cell functions tailored to each patient based on the genetic information of the tumor, enabling specific, effective treatment and reducing recurrence. Some cancers have higher incidence in families due to hereditary abnormalities, such as those with direct relatives having breast cancer and BRCA 1/2 gene mutations, increasing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Genetic information is crucial for planning surveillance, follow-up, and prevention, such as recommending more frequent breast exams or preventive removal of breasts or ovaries. The advantage of Precision Medicine in cancer is selecting appropriate drugs for each patient, helping detect and prevent cancer in high-risk groups, not just curing but preventing recurrence. Cancers treatable with Targeted Therapy include lung, liver, breast, kidney, ovarian, head and neck, colorectal, and lymphoma.
- Targeted therapy is a new option for terminal cancer patients who often worry about “sudden risk of death”. This treatment combined with other methods can extend patient survival.
- Surgery for cancer patients is similar to general surgery, requiring patient preparation and correction of abnormalities before surgery to minimize complications. Some surgeries are extensive, time-consuming, and complex, with significant risk of complications or life-threatening conditions. Surgery is usually performed in early-stage cancer or when cancer has spread to adjacent tissues through hollow organs. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can enhance surgical outcomes.
Types of cancer surgery include removing only the tumor, wide excision removing cancer spread to adjacent tissues, wide excision including nearby lymph nodes, and extensive surgery for large tumors or those spreading into adjacent tissues or organs without distant metastasis.
