Politic-Economic-Society-Tech

Chan Asia-Pacific meet on cancer opens today

By SHIANEE MAMANGLU
A traditional Chinese medicine believed to improve a person's immune system, combined with modern therapies, will be among the matters to be discussed at the 16th Asia-Pacific Conference on Cancer (APCC) which begins today, Nov. 18, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Some 4,500 world experts from 35 countries are expected to attend the four-day conference which aims to design solutions to address the increasing number of cancer cases and treatment modalities for cancer pain. This year's theme is Fighting Cancer in the New Millennium.

This is the second time that the Philippines is hosting the event. The first was in 1977.

"This is indeed a good timing because we have so much to learn about treatment modalities in cancer," Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said. "Despite the advancing technology, we remain helpless in our struggle to come up with the best medicine that will really kill cancer cells."

According to Dr. Antonio Villalon, an oncologist and the current secretary general of the 16th APCC, there is no sufficient treatment or cure yet for cancer. But cancers in the earlier stage are treatable with anti-cancer medications. The advanced and terminal cancer, however, is dependent on pain relievers such as morphine to enhance the quality life in the remaining years.

However, Villalon said, morphine is under siege among many health professionals due to its adverse side effects and the possibility of addiction.

"Improving education of morphine use among health professionals is necessary in order to increase doctors' awareness on the benefits of the drug," he said.

"We have to balance the side effects withthe benefits. Morphine provides more benefits in terminally ill cancers because it relieves them of the pain. Its the only thing they needed to get better every day," Villalon said.

Dr. Ernesto Domingo, over-all chairman of the event, said he will draft a proposal to intensify liberalization of morphine use among doctors and simplify the use and availment of the drug.

Dayrit said the Department of Health is supporting the use of morphine if only to relieve the patient of debilitating pain.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. The 1998 Facts and Figures said cardiovascular diseases and cancer are l the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the country. Lung and breast cancers are the top two cancer diseases.

In the case of traditional Chinese medicine, Secretary Dayrit t said that experts have to look into the results of a study of this treatment among Chinese cancer patients.

"The use of herbal medicines in cancer treatment is far off yet. In fact modern medicines cannot selectively kill the cancer cells, what more with herbal medicines," Villalon said, adding, however, that studies of most herbal medicines are under way.





source: http://www.mb.com.ph, 18.11 2001