Dr. Foo Kian Fong and Dr. Lee Kim Shang

Does cancer have an answer? To many people, cancer is a terrifying disease, which they hope not to get, and prefer not to think or talk about. But in reality, cancer is neither uncommon nor is it untreatable. Some types of cancer can be completely cured. With many other types, early diagnosis and proper treatment makes a big difference.
Two most prominent specialists from Parkway Cancer Center, Singapore shared view with few health journalists of Bangladesh at a local hotel in the city recently. Dr. Lee Kim Shang, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Foo Kian Foong, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist of Parkway Cancer Center (PCC) at Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Gleneagles Singapore came to Bangladesh as the guest speakers to deliver medical talks on "Advancement in treatment of Cancer" in an international seminar jointly organised by Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital and Parkway Health, Singapore.
In the last fifty years, many remarkable advances against cancer have seen. These advances have benefited patients all over the world. However, cancer still remains to be the top killer in the world. Thankfully, in Singapore and more particularly at Parkway Cancer Centre, under the group Parkway Health hospitals, the survival of patients with cancer is also improving. This improvement is accredited to many advances in medicine, such as the introduction of more sensitive computer-assisted imaging, development of monoclonal antibodies and other targeted therapies, the identification of cancer-associated genes. That is why Parkway Health feels that it is important for the Bangladeshis to be aware because knowledge empowers patients to seek appropriate treatment early, and that, holds the key to successfully battling cancer.
Since non-communicable diseases like cancer is getting more related to our urban lifestyle, PCC is organising health awareness seminars for the professionals in different business organisations very recently to create awareness among them and for better understanding about dealing with cancer.
Cancer is a major illness and is the leading cause of death in most part of the world but not everyone who gets cancer will die from it. Is it due to our hectic or bad lifestyle habits? Has richer dietary patterns and smoking which has exposed us to carcinogenic (cancer causing) substances?
In the case that cancer still develops, spotting it in its early stages will give the best chances of beating it. On our part, we need to be aware of changes in our body. This may help detect cancer early and increases our chances of successful treatment. One should go for regular health screening tests especially for those who are considered high risk with family history of the disease.
Cancer management and medical breakthroughs are making cancer more manageable. Chemotherapy may be used alone or with combination treatment such as radiation therapy or surgery depending on the severity of the disease.
The mission of Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) is to provide a comprehensive and integrated premier cancer service that is patient focused with utmost care, comfort and compassion along with their commercial services. They shared with the people of Bangladesh with PCC's knowledge and approaches in the advances of cancer treatment to achieve better awareness for patients to seek appropriate treatment early, and that, holds the key to successfully battling cancer.
Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC), Singapore provides a non-profit cancer counseling service and hotline named "CanHOPE". Through CanHOPE, both patients and the general public receive accurate cancer information, its related screening tests, treatment and other services. PPC believes that cancer is not only a physical ordeal; it is also an emotional one, affecting cancer patients, their family and friends. To help address these emotional needs, they offer resources to help patients and their loved ones cope in this difficult time. People can write to [email protected] for cancer related any information.
During a brief interview, Dr Foo Kian Fong share about the causes and prevention of cancer and advances of cancer treatment. He also touched on what is the disease cancer, the risk factors associated with cancer, prevention and early screening.
Dr Lee Kim Shang, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist shared about the TomoTherapy in cancer treatment, introducing TomoTherapy treatment towards a higher cure rate with lesser side effects.
He said that the treatment of cancer is a multi-modality approach, involving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and biological approaches. Radiation remained an integral part of treatment for many cancers, both for curative and palliative intent. The techniques of radiation continue to be refined, so that cure rates are increased while morbidities declined.
The goal of radiation, as in surgery, is to eliminate the cancer cells completely with the least possible damage to normal tissues. Advances in radiation dosimetry, treatment planning and delivery and verification have allowed for increased precision, dose escalation and reduced toxicity.
Tomotherapy is developed as a new revolutionary way to deliver intensity-modulated radiation therapy to treat tumors. It combines precise 3D imaging from computer tomography for precise localisation of tumors prior to each daily helical treatment delivery. This image guidance allows for increased confidence level in sparing normal tissues from high dose radiation and at the same time permitting dose escalation into tumor tissues.
They concluded that cancer does have an answer. Some types of cancer can be completely cured. We need not live in denial or ignorance of this disease!