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Cancer aftercare must be significantly improved
Health experts have paid special attention to cancer screening in recent years. In many cases, cancer can be diagnosed early and treated better. Now, experts point out that the aftercare of surviving disease must be improved.
Intensify aftercare for patients
In Germany there are more and more new cancer cases. The number of new diagnoses has almost doubled in this country since 1970. However, life expectancy with cancer has increased across Europe. This development is also related to the progress in treatment and diagnostics. Measures such as colonoscopy are very effective for cancer screening. Now German cancer research wants to intensify the aftercare for patients.
Health experts point out that follow-up after cancer has to be intensified. (Image: Elnur / fotolia.com) Every year about half a million new cases
As the "Pharmazeutische Zeitung" (PZ) reports, Volker Arndt from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg explained on the occasion of the World Cancer Day on 4 February: "In the past ten years there has been a growing awareness of providing patients with longer-term care. "
According to the information, about 500,000 new cases are registered each year in Germany. At present, around 3.5 to 4 million people in this country are diagnosed with cancer. According to Arndt, a patient is not automatically healthy after overcoming the disease.
Although the rule of thumb has long been that people who are cancer-free for five years are considered healthy, this, according to Arndt, depends on the type of tumor.
"For many types of tumors, such as breast and prostate cancer, five years after diagnosis, patients have worse chances of survival than non-affected individuals. Also, some late complications do not occur many years after completion of the therapy, "explained the expert.
Heart problems after chemotherapy
In the past, physicians often reviewed blood counts after cancer recovery, and looked for a possible recurrence. But according to Arndt, a series of studies would show that former cancer patients have problems that differ from the symptoms shortly after diagnosis and therapy.
For example, in breast cancer patients after a radiation or chemotherapy heart problems could occur. Other patients sometimes experience sleep disorders or chronic fatigue.
Aftercare pass for patients
According to PZ, Wolfgang Hiddemann from the University of Munich University explained that it depends on the "risk profile" of the patient as to what the aftercare should look like. He warned against relying solely on medical equipment in the aftercare. The dialogue between doctor and patient is at least as important.
Physicians should treat cured cancer patients with sensitivity, but not with excessive restraint. "Not all of these people are traumatized," says Arndt. "Of course it's an incision, but many say that they have learned to re-value life. For this realization they have paid a high price. "
Some health insurance companies have a follow-up passport, which should help those affected to think about the necessary controls after chemotherapy or radiation - and to keep track of such treatments and appointments. (Ad)