Early Detection Of Cancer Is The Key To Increase Recovery Opportunities To The Patient's Life Quality

JAKARTA - Early detection of cancer has an important role in increasing the chances of healing and the patient's quality of life.

However, in Indonesia, not a few people are late in knowing that they have cancer, so the disease was already in an advanced stage when it was diagnosed.

According to data from Global Cancer Statistic (Globocan) released by WHO in 2020, in Indonesia there were 396,914 new cancer cases with 234,511 cancer-induced deaths.

A number of factors that cause early detection of cancer in Indonesia are still health challenges, ranging from the lack of public awareness, economic and social constraints, limited facilities to medical devices.

In the midst of a fairly high number of cancer cases in Indonesia, the availability of cancer detection devices in Indonesia is quite minimal.

This figure is inversely proportional to neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. This is what according to the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, needs an increase in quantity related to domestically produced cancer detection devices.

"Singapore alone there are around 17, Malaysia 20. Now in Indonesia it is still limited because there are only 3 PET-Scans," said Minister of Health Budi when met at the inauguration of the Radioisotopic Factory of PT Global Onkolab Farma (GOF) at PT Kalventis, East Jakarta, Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Please note, PET/CT-Scan is a further medical imaging examination that provides detailed information about the function of organs or systems in the body, especially to detect cancer.

Compared to MRI scans or CT scans alone, PET-CT scans or PET-MRI scans can provide more information to determine the stage of cancer.

Limitation of cancer detection devices in the country is also the reason why many Indonesians seek treatment for neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.

"Of course yes (has an impact on treatment abroad) because he can't detect it, even if the early detection is long in line. In our (Indonesia) 280 million people) there are only 3. Meanwhile, Singapore with 5 million (population total) there are 17, how long to queue, "he said.

On the same occasion, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk (Kalbe) through its subsidiary PT Global Onkolab Farma (GOF) inaugurated a radioisotope factory, especially Fluorodeoxyglucose (FGD) for early detection of cancer.

The radioisotope factory that produces Fluorodeoxyglucose (FGD) is considered very necessary in supporting the Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography Scanning (PET/CT-Scan) inspection service in hospitals.

With the production of medical devices in the form of early detection of cancer from within the country, it is hoped that this tool can help meet hospital needs in early detection of cancer through PET/CT-Scan examination as well as expand access to more cancer patients to undergo comprehensive therapy or treatment.

"Hopefully with domestic production, the queue for early detection of cancer is getting shorter and the Indonesian people don't have to go (drug) abroad," said President Director of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk, Irawati Setiady.