Loja, February 4, 2023
Every year, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) through its health centers and hospitals nationwide, develop campaigns for the prevention and fight against cancer, a strategy that today allows them to detect early through screening cancer that affects women and men.
Andrea Castillo, an oncologist at the Isidro Ayora Hospital in Loja, explains that cancer is the second leading cause of death and the statistics reflect an increase each year. Breast and cervical cancer are the most frequent in the case of women, while stomach, prostate and colon cancer occur in male patients.
During 2022, the hospital treated 2,232 patients, who were evaluated, cared for and treated promptly. Through Solca, those who required oncological treatments for a certain period of time were referred, says Castillo, while 20 new cases per month with early diagnosis have been treated.
The oncologist recommends that, from the age of 40, examinations and controls should be permanent. The patient must be attentive to the presence of nodules, reddening of the breast, presence of lymph nodes at armpit level and in those cases with a family history of some type of cancer.
The population is reminded of the importance of maintaining preventive actions and taking advantage of the screenings offered by the Ministry of Public Health at the national level, which will allow cancer to be detected on time and in a timely manner and to seek adequate treatment.
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