Indonesia Sees Increasing Lung Cancer Patients 10-fold

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Until now, the government continues to reduce the prevalence of lung cancer through the optimization of health facilities and treatment for lung cancer. However, innovation needs to be developed to achieve a good life for lung cancer patients.

The data from the Indonesian Lung Association (PDPI) said that the number of lung cancer patients who visit the national respiratory referral center increased nearly 10-fold compared to 15 years ago. Besides, the highest cancer in Indonesia was 88.8 percent suffered by men and 11.2 percent by women.

Aryanthi Baramuli Putri, Chair of the Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC), said that people need more information about cancer, information about risk factors, symptoms and diagnoses also the treatment methods that are under management guidelines needs to be encouraged.

"This encourages us as a forum for the survivors of cancer to join the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association to launch the Indonesian national movement for Lung Cancer Care," she said.

Through the national movement, the community expected to participate, provide support and active voice in reducing the number of illnesses and deaths from lung cancer in Indonesia.

Agus Dwi Susanto, Chairperson of the Indonesian Lung Doctor Association (PDPI), revealed that more than 80 percent of lung cancer patients get treatment after their cancer enter stage IV. So continuing education needed to the wider community regarding early detection and treatment of lung cancer.

Related to that, Elisna Syahruddin, Chairperson of the Indonesian Lung Cancer Working Group, added that the most important effort is controlling risk factors that need to be massively increased to reduce the number of new cases in the next few years.  The modality of treatment or therapy for lung cancer determined by the type of cancer cells, the stage of the disease when it found, and the patient's condition.

"At present, there is no problem for lung cancer treatment options. Treatment standards in Indonesia are advanced and are equivalent to international treatment guidelines," she said.

Therapy modalities such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, target therapy, and immunotherapy can be given even though the type of target therapy and immunotherapy treatment needs to be done specifically, namely biomolecular markers.  The latest lung cancer treatment standards can be more specific and expected to increase their life with milder side effects.

Bisnis.com | Galuh Kurnia Ramadhani (Intern Translator)