Cancer is a silent-killer that damages your body’s healthy cells without you knowing. It is a very serious condition that is becoming common in Pakistan among many individuals.
This guide includes the types, causes, signs and symptoms of cancer. Moreover, you can also get information about the treatment options for cancer and the cost of cancer treatment in Pakistan.
What are the Types of Cancer?
Although cancer has many types and forms, these are the most common types of cancer in found in Pakistan:
- Skin Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Larynx Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Colorectum Cancer
- Oesophagus Cancer
- Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
The Causes of Cancer
Cancer is caused when your genes are damaged in one way or another due to different reasons. One of the biggest causes of cancer is inherited genetic defects, which means if cancer runs in your family, then you might have a chance to develop this disease at any stage of life. Your age and gender can also be a cause of cancer, due to which it is more common among older adults.
Exposure to environmental agents such as radon, UV radiation, and fine particulate matter can also lead to the development of cancerous cells in the body. There are some occupational risks in which you might be exposed to carcinogenic substances, including chemicals, asbestos, radioactive materials, etc., that contribute to causing cancer.
Moreover, your lifestyle and habits also contribute as a cause of cancer, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, frequent blistering sunburns, obesity, etc.
The Signs & Symptoms of Cancer
Some signs and symptoms indicate a cancerous disease, such as body fatigue, weight changes, changing skin colour to yellow or dark, persistent cough, breathing difficulty, and hoarseness. You may also feel a lump or a thickened area under your skin, which indicates the presence of cancerous cells in your body.
Moreover, there can be alterations in bowel or bladder habits, persistent indigestion, unexplained pain in muscles or joints, fevers, nausea, night sweats, unexplained bleeding, bruising, etc.
The Treatment Options for Cancer
The development in the field of science and technology has led to introduce various medications and treatments for cancer. There are different medications and treatment options based on cancer type, its stage, and the overall health of an affected individual. Here are some treatments which are effective against cancer:
Surgery
Surgery is one of the options for removing cancerous tumours from the patient’s body. During surgery, the lymph nodes are also removed by the surgeons to reduce or prevent the chances of spreading cancer to other healthy cells of the body.
Chemotherapy
It is one of the oldest techniques for killing cancerous cells, using particular medicines that target rapidly dividing cells. These medicines shrink the tumours but also have various side effects on the patient’s body, such as hair loss.
Hormone Therapy
In this treatment, specific medicines are given to the patient that alters the hormonal functioning of the body to reduce the division of cancerous cells. This therapy is commonly used to treat breast cancer and prostate cancer patients.
Immunotherapy
In this advanced technique, such medicines and treatments are undertaken that help boost the patient’s immune system and make it capable of fighting against cancerous cells to destroy them. Checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell transfer are the two types of immunotherapy treatments.
Radiation Therapy
This cancer treatment involves using high-dose radiation to kill the cancerous cells in the patient’s body. Surgeons or doctors can also use this technique to reduce the tumour size before performing surgery.
Stem Cell Transplant
This cancer treatment is effective against blood-related cancers, including leukaemia or lymphoma. In this technique, the damaged red or white blood cells are removed from the body and sent to the laboratory, where technicians work to strengthen those cells. Once the cells are strengthened, they are transplanted back into the patient’s body.
The Cost of Cancer Treatment in Pakistan
The cost of cancer treatment varies in Pakistan for different patients based on the type of treatment being given to them, their health condition, and the cancer type. Moreover, the number of sessions and duration of treatment are also the determining factors behind the total cost. The cost of treating an earlier-stage cancer might be less as it requires a lesser number of sessions.
The type of clinic and the expertise of your doctor or surgeon also play a crucial role in defining the cost required for the treatment of cancer in Pakistan. However, you can expect a cost of PKR 400,000 to 500,000 to get advanced treatment of cancer for a shorter duration to treat an early stage cancer. On the other hand, this cost can be up to PKR 2 million if the cancer is diagnosed lately and requires the use of targeted agents for treating this disease.
Conclusion
Usually, more than one types of treatment are combined by the doctors to increase the effectiveness of the procedure and provide relief to the patient. Therefore, the cost of cancer treatment in Pakistan varies based on the type of treatment, stage of cancer diagnosis, and the overall health of the patient.
The effectiveness and positive results of cancer treatment are ultimately dependent on the optimistic approach of the patients and their willpower to tackle this disease. Moreover, you need to get follow-up sessions from your doctor even after the treatment to reduce the likelihood of re-appearance of cancerous cells in your body with regular check-ups.
