Professor Says Cancer Cases on the Rise; Mostly Related to Cigarette

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Professor Hasbullah Thabrany, Lead Co-Chair of Global Health Security and COVID-19 Task Force T20 Indonesia, on Sunday explained that cases of cancer in the country are seeing an unfortunate rise, which he said are mostly caused by nicotine consumption through smoking. 

"It is known that there are more than 100 diseases related to cigarette consumption, generally almost all cancers have a positive correlation with nicotine consumption," Hasbullah told Tempo on Sunday, October 30.

Apart from cigarettes, other risk factors for cancer are consuming too much oil-fried food, lack of physical exercise, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. He elaborated that because of the aforementioned factors, 4 out of 1000 people will be more susceptible to cancer.

“Maybe if we lived in Germany or Japan, winter would hamper morning jogs but we can do that every single morning throughout the year. But we are not doing it due to our behavioral traits,” he quipped. 

Hasbullah said the government has a crucial role in dealing with cancer cases, especially for the population demographic who can't afford the healthcare to treat the disease.

Starting from health insurance coverage for cancer care and treatment, building public awareness by campaigning for a healthy lifestyle, asserting the dangers of smoking, and providing health care facilities for cancer screening, namely free early health detection services.

The government, he emphasized, should make a policy to inhibit cancer growth by minimizing risk factors, namely by making it difficult for people to buy and sell cigarettes. According to him, this has something to do with the lifestyle of the Indonesian people, most of whom are smokers.

"If it's really dangerous, give them an instrument so they can't afford to buy (cigarettes). Don't make it easier for them to buy cigarettes," he said.

GADIS OKTAVIANI

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