Cancer can be cured, when you seek help on time

Every year, more than 19 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, and the grim forecast is that by 2040, the number of newly diagnosed cases will increase to as many as 30 million per year. Unfortunately, Serbia is among the countries with a high risk of dying from malignant diseases.

There are realizations that we are never ready for, that frighten us greatly in advance, truths that we dare not think about, even if we believe that we are very brave. In our time, finding out that one has cancer causes shock, despair, and often thoughts of death. However, 30-50% of all types of cancer can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles, regular screening tests, early detection, and timely treatment.

‘Colon cancer is one of the three most common locations of malignant tumours, along with lung cancer and breast cancer. And although oncologists are increasingly clearly explaining that nowadays cancer can be cured, especially if detected early, this disease is still a taboo in Serbia. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, malignant colon cancer accounts for 10.9% of all new cases of cancer in men and 9.5% in women’, explains S. Milojević from the National Disability Association ‘ILCO’ Serbia.

The most common malignant diseases in Serbia are lung cancer (about 7,000 new cases per year), colon cancer (about 5,200), and breast cancer (4,450). What are the warning signs of colon cancer that should not be ignored?

‘More frequent stomach cramps, bowel movement disorders, frequent fatigue, unexplained weight loss because cancer cells use a lot of energy reserves. Also, if you notice any trace of blood in your stool, or if your stook is very dark, see a doctor. The occult blood test will reveal if there is blood in the stool. Colonoscopy is also a necessary examination that can detect polyps which will be surgically removed later on’, says our interlocutor.

In the process of surgical treatment of colon cancer, patients are sometimes given a stoma - a surgically formed opening on the front of the abdominal wall, as a way of emptying the bowel from then on. The stoma can be temporary - when the patient wears a device for several months, or permanent - for the rest of their life. Patients in our hospitals are often not prepared in advance for this, so they react psychologically with difficulty.

‘At that time, they are in a state of shock, great confusion, fear of death. Regardless of gender, age, education, religion, everyone withdraws into themselves because they are plagued by countless questions: Will their spouse or partner accept and support them now, how to tell their children and grandchildren that they have a stoma and that they will have it for the rest of their lives, will they be able to properly change the device, how will they eat now, will they be able to work, what will their intimacy be like’, continues Snežana S. Milojević, who herself has had a stoma for three decades and lives a normal and active life filled with selfless help to patients, love, travel, recreation, and art.

‘I often have to lift my blouse to show them the bag because people don't believe that I have had a stoma (ileostomy) for 33 years. They change their perspective in an instance, their spirits are lifted and they become optimistic that they can move forward. And when they hear that my stoma brought me the love of my life, and that the friendship of two stoma patients has grown into the joy of living together and the joint dedication to helping patients who are going through the difficult experience of fighting colon cancer, they realize that they can beat the disease and continue living a normal life.’

Snežana S. Milojević is the founder and successful leader of the National Disability Association ‘ILCO’ Serbia. She reminds us that our country must actively work to improve the conditions for treatment of cancer patients, strengthen screening programs, and raise awareness of the importance of regular check-ups and early detection of the disease when its further development can be successfully prevented, when the disease can be successfully treated, and patients can continue living a normal life.