Cancer was responsible for 27% of deaths in 2012, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia, who was accompanied by Mrs Michelle Muscat, said today following a visit to Boffa Hospital in Floriana to mark World Cancer Day.
Both Dr Farrugia and Mrs Muscat urged those individuals being invited by the government to get screened for cancer to accept the request and not to fear doing so, since if detected early, cancer is far more treatable.
World Cancer Day 2014, which is being marked today, is once again focusing on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer, under the tagline ‘Debunk the myths’.
From a global level, the World Cancer Day organisation focused its message on the four myths, dismissing misconceptions associated with cancer, and Malta is no exception. The myths are: ‘We don’t need to talk about cancer’; ‘Cancer… there are no signs and symptoms’; ‘there is nothing I can do about cancer’; and ‘I don’t have the right to cancer care’.
“Cancer is not a disease of the elderly and it can hit anyone; it’s a nice day today out here but inside the hospital it is a different situation - visiting patients struck by cancer is heartbreaking, people who come from all walks of life,” Mrs Muscat said after she visited a number of patients at Boffa.
She said that many a time she was told that patients refused to attend cancer screening invites since they feared the diagnosis.
“Some cancer stricken patients are also shy of stating they are suffering from the disease; nobody has asked to go through such a traumatic experience, there’s nothing to be shy of,” she said.
Mrs Muscat highlighted that although today’s lifestyle is fast-paced, it is vital one sought moments of tranquility.
“I am a mother of two and it’s a daily struggle to find time to cook healthy food and avoid resorting to ready-made foods, but one must find the time,” she said.
Mrs Muscat thanked the Boffa Hospital and Mater Dei oncology team, and NGOs promoting cancer prevention.
Dr Farrugia meanwhile said that prostate cancer was the most common cancer among men while breast cancer was the most common among women, however stated that the rate of colorectal cancer and lung cancer is also problematic.
He said that it’s a positive aspect that the survival rate is increasing but this also creates a burden on healthcare, and it cannot be ignored, since an ageing population brings with it an increase in chronic diseases and a demand for medicines.
“This government is analysing the best ways possible to address the situation that is arising within the health sector as a result of the aging population,” he said.
“One thing’s for sure, if a patient needs a medicine, whatever the price, we will provide it and won’t discriminate,” Dr Farrugia assured.
The minister also announced that cervical cancer screening would also be strengthened and the government was already drafting its 2015-2020 screening policy.