EDITORIAL

THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER IN COLOMBIA

LUIS HERNANDO CAMACHO, MD, MPH^a
Department of Research, Oncology Consultants, Houston, Texas

^a Correspondence: lcamacho@oncologyconsultants.com. Postal Address: Department of Research; Oncology Consultants, P.A.; 925 Gessner. Suite 600. Houston, TX 77024

Abstract

Cancer takes the lives of more than 7 million people each year worldwide. This epidemic is expected to increase 70% by 2030. The American Cancer Society statistics are equally concerning: 1 of every 2 males and 1 of every 3 females will develop invasive cancer in their lifetime. Furthermore, 72% of all cancer related deaths occur in developing countries. The extent of this epidemic is well refl ected in our National statistics where cancer is responsible for 25,000 deaths; the second leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular disease.

Our strategy for a National war against cancer must include a multidisciplinary approach with a strong comitment from all different sectors of our society. Such efforts must include education on cancer prevention through well established massive media public campaigns, intensification of training for all health care professionals, and a global National policy aiming at developing an infrastructure for the creation or activation of existing local or regional cancer registries capable of generating accurate statistics to allow the analysis of the true incidence of malignancies and their National distribution. Our fi ght against cancer must heavily rely on the wide application of well established cancer prevention guidelines. This measure will result in earlier diagnoses and substantially improved outcomes. The Colombian cancer statistics reported by Zambrano (2002) and Piñeros (2006) describe gastric, prostate and lung as the leading cancer related mortality causes among males and uterine (cervix and endometrial), gastric, and breast among females. Developed countries have successfully decreased the incidence of these malignancies in their societies by applying preventive screening tools to patients at risk. However, it is necessary to implement massive and well coordinated educational measures in this regard including our schools, community committees with media support, and perhaps of equal importantce, these educational measures must include the training programs for health care providers accross the nation.