Cancer is treated ever more effectively

These conclusions follow from the statistics which have been published by Czech researchers at a recent conference on cancer treatment. Although the number of new cancer patients increases by 5% every year, there is also a 5% annual increase in successfully cured patients, and the number of people dying of cancer is more or less stable: about 27,000 people every year. This implies that the mortality is becoming lower in some types of cancer.

Dozens of patients' lives saved

These trends can be clearly seen in recent treatment results which have been published by Dr David Feltl, the senior consultant at the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital Ostrava, at the occasion of conference on the quality of cancer treatment. Over the last two years, Dr Feltl and his colleagues have managed to decrease the proportion of patients who have died of head and neck cancer. In 2004-2005, the mortality of these patients was 38%; whereas in 2006-2007, this proportion has decreased to 13% only. As a result, lives of 80 patients were saved. There was no "miraculous" medicinal product to help oncologists from Ostrava in their effort; they have "just" started to implement the latest findings in medicine on how to irradiate patients in the most effective way. "In particular, the survival rate has increased thanks to a better radiotherapy. We have begun to irradiate patients with a higher dose, but over a shorter period. In addition, we have irradiated them elsewhere than the tumour itself. This treatment is more intensive and patients benefit from it," Dr Feltl said.

A great progress has been also done in the treatment of other types of cancer. This can be attributed to the fact that Czech patients in specialized cancer centres are provided the same treatment as is provided to patients elsewhere in Western Europe. "There is an enormous difference between the quality of cancer care today and 20 years ago. Back then, we would not have been able to cure the testicular cancer, while most of the cases can be cured today. The same applies for the treatment of lymphatic cancer," pointed out Prof Rostislav Vyzula, head of the Department of Comprehensive Oncology Care at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute.

Patients with breast cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in women by a long way, have a much better chance of survival nowadays. "The chance of survival in breast cancer patients is higher by 30% today than 20 years ago," added Prof Vyzula. In particular, this has been achieved due to the breast cancer prevention programme, which has been launched several years ago. This programme is free of charge and is aimed at women aged between 45 and 69. "Since 2002 - the year when this programme was launched - we have recorded a sharp rise in early form of breast cancer, which is a curable stage. Thanks to the prevention programme, we have saved lives of about 2,000 women every year," added Prof Vyzula.

Early treatment, better chance of survival

In fact, there is a simple, but very important rule which applies in cancer treatment: the earlier is cancer detected, the bigger is the chance of patient's survival. For example, if the treatment of a patient with bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) is started on time, there is a 82% chance of five-year survival. However, if the treatment is started in the fourth stage of the disease, the chance of survival is five times lower. Unfortunately, more than half of the patients with bowel cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in Czech men, go to see a doctor when it is too late. And the same phenomenon is reported for other types of cancer, too - except the treatment of breast cancer. "Unfortunately, there is a large proportion of patients who are diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer," confirms Prof Jiri Vorlicek, President of the Czech Society for Oncology. The number of bowel cancer cases diagnosed at an early stage is expected to grow from 1st of January 2009, when the General Health Insurance Office will start to reimburse colonoscopy to their clients aged 55 and over. "If a patient undergoes a colonoscopy and learns everything is OK, he does not have to be afraid about colorectal cancer over the next 10 years," added Prof Vorlicek. This examination - which actually is not very popular - has been already offered for some time by a few smaller health insurance companies.

2. 10. 2008 Hospodarske noviny

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