At a press conference held in a hotel on the occasion of 1-30 November Lung Cancer Awareness Month, hosted by the Dance with Cancer Association, experts shared information about risk factors for cancer, ways to protect themselves, cancer screenings and the importance of nutrition.
At the meeting, the digital information platform “KDD Academy” launched by the association was also introduced.
In her speech here, the President of the Association, Sevil Gürkan, stated that KDD Academy was created with the support of experienced physicians and experts in their fields, and that patients and their relatives are informed on the digital platform, and noted that the contents of the platform can be accessed through the website and social media accounts of the Dance with Cancer Association.
Stating that the platform was established based on the results of the “Needs and Expectations Survey of Cancer Patients” conducted in 2022 with the participation of 1188 patients and their relatives, Gürkan said, “According to the results of the online survey, more than 90 percent of the 1188 participating patients want to receive free oncological nutritional support and psychological support.” “60 percent of the patients have information about Cancer Early Diagnosis and Education Centers (KETEM), but 82 percent reported that they have never been to KETEM. That is why we laid the foundations of KDD Academy with the support of our volunteer teachers.” he said.
SCREENING TESTS ARE DONE FREE OF CHARGE IN KETEMS
Assoc. Prof. of Health Sciences University (SBÜ) Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health. Dr. Hülya Şirin gave detailed information about KETEMs.
Emphasizing that tobacco and tobacco product use, malnutrition, obesity and inactivity should be avoided in order to be protected from cancer, Şirin pointed out the importance of regular cancer screenings for certain age groups for the early diagnosis of cancer. Şirin pointed out that screening tests for breast cancer, cervical and colon cancer are performed at KETEMs and that these services are free of charge.
“3 OUT OF 4 LUNG CANCERS ARE SMOKING RELATED”
Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Umut Demirci said, “Lung cancer is one of the most important public health problems. It is the most common type of cancer and causes the most deaths in our society as well as in Western societies. Lung cancer is twice as common in men as in women.” shared his knowledge.
Emphasizing that one of the most important causes of lung cancer is smoking, Demirci said, “The risk of lung cancer in smokers is up to 30 times higher than in other individuals. 3 out of every 4 lung cancers are related to smoking. A history of smoking for 20 years or more in early diagnosis.” “Low-dose tomography scans are important for people we define as high-risk groups. These have not yet been included in routine screenings in our country. They have some disadvantages, but they are important for the high-risk group.” he said.
Demirci stated that lung cancer can occur in non-smoking individuals as a result of different factors such as environmental exposure.
SBU Gülhane Faculty of Medicine Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology Specialist Assoc. Dr. İsmail Ertürk gave information about stomach and esophagus cancers.
Assoc. Prof. points out that digestive system cancers are generally seen in people over the age of 40-50. Dr. Ertürk emphasized that early diagnosis is life-saving in stomach and esophageal cancers, and that a specialist should be consulted for symptoms such as eating difficulty, weight loss, and chest pain, especially in people over the age of 40-45.
Ertürk stated that 90 percent of esophageal cancer is caused by alcohol and cigarettes. Pointing out that stomach cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the world, Ertürk said that stomach cancer is common in Turkey, especially in the eastern regions.
“DIETARY HABITS AFFECT 35 PERCENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER”
Oncology Dietician Assoc. Dr. Dilşat Baş said, “It has been shown in scientific studies that nutritional habits are 35 percent effective in the development of cancer. This is valid for all cancers. We know that it is much more effective in the development of lung, stomach and esophagus cancers.” he said.
Emphasizing that eating habits can be shaped in the direction of cancer protection, Baş said, “Do not use processed meat products, limit the use of sugar and especially sugary drinks, increase the consumption of fiber foods, vegetables and fruits, reduce the consumption of red meat, increase the consumption of white meat, especially fish, be physically active.” “Our main recommendations are for mothers to breastfeed their babies.” he said.
Baş pointed out the importance of creating an individual nutrition plan for patients, monitoring their nutrition and maintaining it throughout the treatment process.
Referring to the importance of psychotherapy for cancer patients and their relatives, Specialist Psychologist and Psycho-oncologist Sibel Cesur Akyunak underlined that psychological support for cancer patients and their relatives helps to maintain both emotional and physical well-being during the difficult processes of the disease.
Akyunak also pointed out that cancer patients observed that group therapies were very beneficial.
“IT CAUSES POOR TUMORS THAT DO NOT RESPOND TO TREATMENT”
Experts answered questions from members of the press after the meeting. Prof. Dr. When asked about the relationship between e-cigarette use and lung cancer, Umut Demirci explained that this relationship has not yet been clearly revealed in scientific publications, but there are ongoing scientific studies on it.
Underlining that the use of tobacco and tobacco products causes bad-risk lung cancers, Demirci said, “Smoking leads to the formation of bad tumors in the lungs that are often unsuitable for new treatments, smart drugs and immunotherapies and are unresponsive to treatment.” he said.
Demirci added that target-oriented therapies are now used not only in advanced stage but also in early stage patients in the world.
“‘BETA CAROTENE’ SUPPLEMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF LUNG CANCER IN SMOKERS
Assoc. Dr. Dilşat Baş, on the question of the risks that may be caused by unconscious use of food supplements and vitamins in both patients and healthy individuals, stated that nutrition plans are prepared by experts according to the condition of cancer patients and that food supplements and vitamins should never be taken without the approval of a physician.
Baş stated that glutathione supplementation reduces the effectiveness of the treatment in patients receiving chemotherapy and continued as follows:
“Unfortunately, there is an insane amount of use of food supplements. There is also scientific data that such use negatively affects the course of the disease. For example, vitamin A and beta carotene supplements have an effect that increases the risk of lung cancer in healthy smokers.
Beta carotene is a vitamin that should be supplemented in the prevention of lung cancer, but it must be supplemented from diet. In other words, when given as a vitamin, it was found to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers, and this was shown in a scientific study. So, for example, the effect of beta carotene taken from carrots is not the same as the effect taken from the vitamin. For this reason, uncontrolled use of vitamins and minerals, especially in smokers, can pose greater dangers. This needs to be taken into consideration.”
AA