At the Hospital Serena del Mar, we join the World Cancer Day: Current situation of cancer worldwide, Colombia and Cartagena

World Cancer Day is celebrated every February 4, promoted by the World Health Organization, the International Center for Research on Cancer (CIIC) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC); this year at the Hospital Serena del Mar we joined with the objective of increasing awareness and mobilizing society to advance in the prevention and control of this disease.

According to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC): “More than a third of cancer cases can be prevented. Another third can be cured if detected early and treated properly. By implementing appropriately resourced strategies for prevention, early detection and treatment, we can save millions of lives each year.”

Worldwide, Cancer is the second cause of death; During 2020, 4,000,000 cases and 1,400 deaths due to cancer were diagnosed. 57% of the new cases of cancer occurred in people between the ages of 69 and younger.

In Colombia, cancer is the sixth leading cause of mortality, with an incidence of 182 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and a mortality of 84 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The most frequent causes in Colombia are:

• Prostate cancer 47 patients per 100,000 inhabitants 
• Breast cancer 34 per 100,000 inhabitants 
• Cervical cancer 19 per 100,000 inhabitants 
• Lung cancer in men 13 per 100,000 inhabitants 
• Colorectal cancer 12 per 100,000 inhabitants

Particularly in Cartagena, the studies that have been carried out and for which there are more statistics are breast cancer and the data that is available is basically mortality during the first 7 months of 2022, which is 10.2 patients per 100,000 inhabitants.

Now, with these figures in hand we must talk about risk factors, there are many types of cancer that a person can develop, for multiple reasons. In many cases, the risk factors cannot be changed, but about a third of cancer cases can be prevented by reducing the main risk factors.

• Non-modifiable risk factors are: age and/or genetics.

Some risk factors that we can control are:

• Consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. 
• Food and diet. 
• Activity and physical exercise. 
• Radiation or exposure to carcinogenic substances. 
• Certain infections.

Now, at the Cancer Institute of the Hospital Serena del Mar, hope is reborn for our cancer patients and their families, we have specialized technological teams and a group of highly qualified specialists that allow us to provide comprehensive care from the moment of cancer diagnosis. You have the healing and recovery of the patient's quality of life.

At our Cancer Institute we have specialties such as:

• Clinical Oncology 
• Radiation Oncology
• Pediatric Hematology Oncology 
• Hematology 
• Palliative Care

The comprehensiveness offered by the Cancer Institute of our institution additionally contemplates an area of ​​Oncological Wellness, made up of a multidisciplinary team of:

Psychology Psychiatry Physical and occupational rehabilitation Respiratory therapy Speech therapy Nutrition Metabolic support

If you need a second opinion or are going to start treatment and require an appointment with our specialists, you can contact us at +57 316 025 9202.