A report by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) warned that incidents of cancer worldwide will grow 75% by the year 2030, led by an increase in the number of cases in developing countries.
According to Graham Anderson, Principal Officer at Profmed, the medical scheme that caters exclusively for graduate professionals, the increase in the number of people who smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol and make poor diet choices is leading to a sharp increase in the frequency of cancer cases in South Africa.
"One of the biggest problems we face, yet it does not get the same degree of attention as smoking and drinking, is the health impact of poor diets. With fast food often being seen as a cheap and easy alternative, it is becoming a staple diet for many people. This can have a hugely negative impact on someone's health as fast foods tend to be refried a number of times, resulting in increased carcinogens, which are a direct cause of cancer."
Anderson says that while incidents of cancer are increasing, so too is patient awareness and education of the disease. "The internet has had a profound effect on the medical industry, with many patients now having the ability to research their disease online and engage with other patients in a similar situation at the touch of a button. This can be a great comfort whilst they are suffering with the disease, yet at the same time it also presents significant challenges. For example, patients who research the disease and available treatments online may discover experimental drugs being used elsewhere or different lines of treatment than their doctor has advised."
"Patients use the internet to get more information on the treatment of the disease and use this to convince their doctors to tailor make treatment programmes. While greater education about an illness or a disease can be very positive for patients to come to terms with their illness, in some cases it has also resulted in people refusing a first line of treatment and trying to start on a more aggressive third or fourth line of treatment, which may not be in their best interests."
"Cancer is a very emotive disease and it is becoming increasingly common for patients, or their families, to implore doctors to continue with acute care - active but short-term treatment - even when the patient should be on palliative care - the relieving and preventing of suffering.
Anderson notes that cancer is a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB), which means it must be funded by a medical aid scheme. "A medical scheme does not make the decision on how a patient should be treated but it does engage with specialist radiologists and oncologists to advise them on the most appropriate course of treatment that the scheme should be funding."
"There is little that can be done to reduce rising oncology costs. As treatments improve, so does the number of cancer survivors, which increases the overall cost of care. However, with more cancers arising as a result of poor choices it is becoming increasingly important for people to understand the ramifications of a poor diet, lack of exercise or excessive alcohol consumption and to make the necessary changes to their lifestyle," concludes Anderson.
