Santa Cruz de Tenerife 19 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The speaker of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Astrid Pérez, has urged on Wednesday to provide “visibility” to the battle against cancer in order to enhance “social awareness” and deemed it “essential” to improve collaboration between public entities and associations, as contributions from partners are “insufficient.”
During the opening of the parliamentary proceedings against cancer, she expressed the regional chamber’s commitment to “enhance the quality of life of patients significantly” and to strive to eliminate the disease through research, or to make it “less daunting and more manageable.”
She also remarked that “no one is exempt from cancer knocking at their door” as it can “affect anyone,” making it a “challenge” that patients and their families must confront with “bravery, resolve and resilience.”
Pérez revealed that over the past year, more than 12,300 cases of cancer were identified in the Canary Islands, with 4,700 fatalities, in a scenario where cancer incidence has risen by over 25.5 per cent in the last decade.
She highlighted that colorectal cancer was the most common, with 1,754 new cases recorded in the islands last year, followed by breast cancer with 1,638 diagnoses, prostate cancer with 1,553 cases, and lung cancer, which accounted for 1,380 cases.
The Parliament’s president also expressed her “gratitude” to all medical professionals and researchers who “dedicate their lives and efforts” to assist patients and combat the disease, as well as the associations that “tirelessly fight with limited resources throughout the year to support these individuals and enhance care services.”
Dr. Claudio Fuentes Sánchez, head of radiotherapy at the University Hospital of La Candelaria, delivered the first presentation, providing insights into the current state and advancements in cancer treatment.
He emphasised that there is currently a “revolution” in treatment options, with previously unseen developments.
According to him, “we are on the path, for the first time in history, to curing metastatic patients.”
Yurena Macario, a psychologist from the Small Valiente Association, discussed the significance of supporting children who face prolonged hospital stays due to childhood cancer in her talk.
Continuation of the School Curriculum
“Children often miss extended periods at school and lose contact with their peers, yet there are resources available to help them keep up with the school curriculum,” she stated.
Dr. Berta Pinto, a cancer nutrition expert, noted in her presentation that many patients arrive lacking awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet.
“Patients often experience significant muscle mass loss, and it is crucial to advocate for high-protein diets,” she stated, while confirming that “there is no miraculous anti-cancer diet.”
Brigitte Gypen, president and founder of the Carrera for Life Association, stressed that early detection is vital for confronting the disease.
Journalist Yaiza Díaz participated in her ‘workshop’, sharing her experience following her breast cancer diagnosis.
Díaz expressed that patients often lack sufficient information. “Many individuals do not understand what chemotherapy involves, leading to panic instead of seeing it as a positive step,” she remarked.
Dr. Delvys Rodriguez, president of the Canarian Foundation against Cancer and head of the Oncology Service at the Maternal Children’s Insular Hospital in Gran Canaria, commented that “lung cancer patients often feel embarrassed about their condition and carry a sense of guilt.”
Furthermore, he underscored the significance of immunotherapy as a new treatment method for tackling these tumours.
Francisco Javier Mora, a lung cancer patient, together with his brother Santiago Mora, concluded the day with their accounts in an interview, sharing their journey through the diagnosis and treatment while being from a non-capital island.
“You become so overwhelmed that you don’t truly comprehend the disease until some time has elapsed,” said Francisco.
