Seo-gu News

Cancer! An Illness We Can Overcome

Yun Tae Ho ( Director of Busan Regional Cancer Center )

Case 1) Mr. Hong Gildong, 50 years old avails a free a free medical checkup from the National Health Insurance Corporation every two years. Since the time he received a notice for the medical checkup, he immediately cut off his smoking habit. Though he did not show the symptoms, the medical result showed that he had gastric cancer on its early stage. Because the cancer was discovered earlier, Mr. Hong Gildong, underwent an early treatment and had endoscope operation. (Case 2) Mr. Kim Min Guk is 50 years old who operates a small restaurant. Since his business did not go well he started to smoke more than a pack of cigarette everyday. He even took for granted the notice sent by the National Health Insurance Corporation for the medical examination. Recently, Mr. Kim is continuously taking the medicine but the doctor said his cancer has advanced. For those who are reading this article, how does the two cases related? The National Statistic office announced that last year(2009) that there were 16 people who died of cancer in Busan which is the highest rate ever. The scary cancer can be prevented. One-third of which is thru a healthy lifestyle and the other one-third is to have an early diagnosis. Smoking is known to cause 20% of cancer cases. It is known that there is a 30% decrease of mortality if smoking is stopped. Cancer is getting higher yet early screening is difficult, hence treatment is also difficult and survival rate will be very low. Above all many people did not give importance to stop smoking. Korea has many cases of gastric cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer which is affecting our nation. There is support for the medical checkup and medication yet many people are afraid to know the truth and become reluctant to get the test. As the person grows older he is likely to develop cancer so it is advised all elderly must take the early screening test. Cancer is not an expensive disease to treat but an illness that can be overcome. The disease can overcome thru a non-smoking and healthy living practices, and receiving regular check-ups early enough to overcome the possible disease.