Don't Let Cancer Overcome You, You Overcome Cancer

Cancer disease is a multifactorial disease in which many genetic and environmental factors play a role. Family members with cancer are not the only determining factor in cancer. However, it is recommended that people who have family members diagnosed with cancer at an early age should have tests for early diagnosis. There are many gene mutations that genetically increase susceptibility. Among these genetic mutations, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most common ones. These tests can be examined in many centers in our country.BRCA1 and 2 mutations are known to increase susceptibility to breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, etc. cancers in individuals. The most common cancer in this group is breast cancer.Therefore, breast examination is recommended for people with BRCA1-2 mutation from the age of 18, mammography at the age of 25-35, clinical breast examination every 6 months or annually from the age of 25-35, and annual breast MRI examination. From the age of 30-35, they are required to have examinations and tests for ovarian cancer every 6 months

Early diagnosis is very important in cancer disease. Therefore, healthy individuals should apply to the relevant branch physicians for screening tests. Annual gynecological examination and smear tests are required for cervical cancer screening in women. One of the most common types of cancer in women is breast cancer. For breast cancer screening, a physician examination and annual mammography and breast ultrasound are recommended for all women after the age of 40. One of the most common types of cancer in both sexes is lung cancer. It is known that smoking history significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. Physician examination and thoracic (lung) tomography using low-dose contrast agent are recommended for chronic smokers. Another type of cancer commonly seen in both sexes is bowel (colon and rectum) cancer. For bowel cancer screening, it is recommended to perform occult blood in the stool and colonoscopy in individuals over the age of 50.

The treatment of cancer is evaluated in Oncology councils jointly held by multidisciplinary departments (Medical Oncology physicians, related surgical branch physicians, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, etc.) in appropriate centers, and its treatment is planned. The diagnosis, stage, pathological characteristics and genetic characteristics of each cancer patient are evaluated and the treatment is planned individually. After appropriate surgical procedures, chemotherapy, targeted cancer treatments, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonotherapy treatments are applied in cancer patients. While making an individualized treatment plan in cancer patients, the appropriate chemotherapy agent, smart drug or immunotherapy treatment can be selected with genetic analysis using the next generation sequencing method.Although the diagnosis and stage of cancer are the same, each individual's cancer and treatment is different. Treatment modalities may be completely different in cancer patients with the same diagnosis and stage. Appropriate treatment (chemotherapy, smart medicine or immunotherapy) should be given to the cancer patient at the appropriate time. For example, in lung cancer patients with the same diagnosis and stage, different treatments (chemotherapy, smart drug or immunotherapy, or cancer vaccine, also known as cuba vaccine, etc.) can be applied by looking at pathological subtypes, genetic mutation analyzes, and immunotherapy susceptibility markers. Patients whose cancer treatment has been completed are taken into the follow-up process. Close follow-up is very important in cancer. Cancer patients should be followed up with appropriate examinations and examinations at appropriate time intervals to be determined by their physicians. During the follow-up period, local recurrences or metastasis in distant organs may occur locally in the region where the disease first appeared in patients. Close follow-up is important in cancer patients to detect recurrence and metastases at an early stage. The treatment plan for regional recurrence or metastases detected in patients should be made urgently. With the appropriate treatment of cancer patients by multidisciplinary specialist physicians and then a regular follow-up process, cancer is now a curable disease.