The number of cancer patients in the Netherlands will rise explosively in the coming years, according to a trend study by the Integral Cancer Center of the Netherlands (IKNL). But which cancers are most common? And how can they be recognized?
By Julia SkipperIn 2019, 118,000 people were told they had cancer. According to the research of IKNL, in 2032 there will be about 156,000 diagnoses. “We also call the most common cancer types the Big Five,” says internist-oncologist Gabe Sonke of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. “Breast, Colon, Prostate, Skin, and Lung Cancer.”
The increase in the number of diagnoses is partly due to the aging population. The elderly have a greater and increasing risk of developing cancer.
The five most common cancers each have their own unique symptoms that you can check yourself for. “A permanent change in your bowel movements, for example, could indicate colon cancer,” says Sonke. “If there is also blood in the stool, that is an alarm signal. In addition, sudden weight loss can indicate colon cancer.”
Have your chest checked immediately
Incessant coughing is a common symptom of lung cancer. Sonke: “Have it checked immediately if you cough up a lot of mucus and blood.”
One of the most common symptoms of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. The advice is clear: “If you feel something in the chest that won’t go away, get it checked out right away.”
More than a third of all cancer cases are lifestyle related.
Prostate cancer is more difficult to detect. “A characteristic of this form of cancer is complaints when urinating. For example, the urine stream can be less powerful and a man can suffer from a burning sensation when urinating or dripping,” says the internist oncologist.
These complaints often go hand in hand with old age, and are therefore not a direct signal of prostate cancer. Sonke: “It is wise to go to the doctor with these complaints.”
Skin cancer is perhaps the best type of cancer to detect, because it is on the outside of the body. “Watch out for skin spots and moles that change. Especially if they start to bleed, it is advisable to show these spots to the doctor.”
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The importance of a healthy lifestyle
In absolute terms, the diagnoses for these Big Five cancers will increase the most, but in percentage terms, liver and kidney cancers will increase the most. These are cancers that are generally related to obesity and alcohol. According to Sonke, we see “an obesity pandemic approaching us”.
“Be really vigilant about your health, watch your lifestyle and your sun exposure,” says Sonke. More than a third of all cancer cases are lifestyle related. “Reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, eating healthier, protecting your skin from the sun’s rays and exercising more have a great effect,” says Arjan de Boer of KWF.
Use that HPV vaccination. Not only for yourself, but also for others.
Sonke underlines the importance of the HPV vaccination for boys and girls. HPV is a virus that you contract through sexual contact with someone who is infected. This infection can cause cancer later in life. The vaccination protects against six types of cancer, of which cervical cancer is the best known. Sonke: “Use that vaccination. Not only for yourself, but also for others.”
Oncological care organized in a different way
According to IKNL chairman Thijs Merkx, care must be organized in a different way in order to continue to receive the increasing number of cancer patients.
“There is currently a staff shortage, a capacity problem in the hospitals. We see opportunities for a different way of collaborating between the hospitals to respond to this,” says Merkx.
Is it wiser to treat, for example, prostate cancer in one hospital and lung cancer in another?
“Oncological care must be organized in a different way, without crowding out other care. For example, a lot of regular care was postponed during the corona crisis, because we did not know that we would end up in a pandemic. Now we already know what the coming ten years ahead, and we must prepare for that with all responsible parties.”
Merkx already gives a suggestion: “Should all cancer treatments be carried out in full in every hospital? Or is it more sensible to treat prostate cancer in one hospital and lung cancer in another hospital? In this way, certain hospitals focus on certain types of treatments. .”
Government must contribute to a healthy living environment
“You have to live healthy now in order not to get something in the future. That’s damn difficult, but it’s the only way,” says Sonke. According to De Boer, it is important that the government contributes to a healthy living environment by introducing measures.
“Restricting alcohol marketing and regularly raising excise duties on tobacco are concrete examples of measures that bring a healthy environment and therefore a healthy lifestyle closer.”