Fear of a cancer diagnosis and belief in medical myths often prevent people from seeking treatment in time. Kazakh oncologist Yerlan Kabdolov shared his professional perspective on the importance of early cancer detection.
Early detection improves survival
According to Kabdolov, chronic gastritis that remains untreated for years can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
«The survival rate for stage 1 stomach cancer is 90%. At stage 3, it is 30%. At stage 4, it is less than 10%. The stage is the deciding factor,» he said.
Kabdolov said patients often fear a cancer diagnosis and view it as a death sentence. In many cases, however, detecting cancer early provides an opportunity for effective treatment.
«The danger lies not in visiting an oncologist but in putting it off for years,» he said.
Smoking also increases the risk of lung cancer, Kabdolov said. Even after a person quits smoking, the risk remains elevated for years and may take about 10 years to return to the level of a nonsmoker.
Know the warning signs of melanoma
Melanoma can be identified by changes in the shape, color or size of a mole, according to Kabdolov.
«But as a doctor, I want to offer one piece of advice: Before having a mole removed anywhere, show it to an oncologist first,» he said. «To the naked eye, melanoma can easily be mistaken for a common benign growth. Unfortunately, such mistakes happen frequently in cosmetic clinics.»
Kabdolov also discussed some of the most common cancer myths he encounters during consultations.
Biopsies do not spread cancer
«‘A biopsy spreads cancer throughout the body’ — that is a myth I hear every week,» he said. «Because of it, people put off diagnosis for months.»
«While they are afraid of the biopsy, the tumor is actually growing,» Kabdolov added.
Another persistent myth in oncology is that cancer «loves» sugar.
«Cancer cells do indeed use glucose for growth, but so do normal cells,» he said. «Giving up sugar won’t stop the tumor. That’s a myth that only causes fear and distracts from actual treatment.»
Notably, Kursiv.media previously reported that cancer mortality in Kazakhstan has fallen by a quarter.
