Colors of the Morning: Doctors are concerned about the continued rise in malignant diseases

Although precise statistical data on the incidence and mortality of malignant diseases in Montenegro do not exist, the trends, as experts warn, are more than worrying. The number of patients is continuously increasing, both in the world and in our country.

"I'm not fascinated by the numbers themselves, but by the fact that the growth is continuous. That's what's scary," said Dr. Nada Cicmil Sarić from the Institute of Oncology, a guest on Boje jutra.

Speaking about the work of the Institute of Oncology, Dr. Cicmil Sarić stated that around 31,000 outpatient and around 6,000 consultation examinations are performed annually, while the day hospital receives an average of 85 patients undergoing chemotherapy, and that number often exceeds 100.

"If you enter the Institute at nine in the morning, two or five in the afternoon, you get the feeling that none of us have been there doing anything for days. There are so many people that a picture speaks a thousand words," she said.

When asked why we have more oncology patients today than before, the doctor says:

"The explanation is called life. Malignant diseases are a tribute to modern life. Everything from the speed of life, from the lack of attention, love for oneself, from the lack of enough time for a quality rest of life, for sleep, for socializing with other people and with oneself in a nice, stress-free, quality way. Also, various forms of fast food, because we all know that uncultured people eat what they like, and cultured people eat what they need. Disrespect for all those principles, which we all know perfectly well and have even gotten ourselves and others over the top with numerous recommendations through the media, through social networks, but we do not respect that at all. Simply put, we continue to live our own way," she pointed out.

Suzana Jovićević, a representative of the NGO "Breathe", who defeated the disease almost 15 years ago, shared her experience with breast cancer.

"I come from a healthy family, no one had cancer genetically. It was a shock for the whole family," said Jovićević.

She identified stress and being overwhelmed by daily responsibilities as the main trigger.

"The pace of life, family, the need for everything to be ideal and perfect. Later you realize that it can't be that way and that you have to protect yourself," she said.

The diagnosis, she says, changed her priorities.

"It took me some time to sit down with myself and sort out what's important to me. Health comes first."

According to Dr. Cicmil Sarić, the most common forms of cancer in Montenegro and the world are breast, lung, and colon cancer. As of 2021, breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer in terms of incidence.

"Enormous progress has been made in treatment. Many malignant diseases today are chronic, with which one lives for years," she said, adding that maintenance therapies have brought a revolution in oncology.

However, she emphasized that with preventable cancers, the focus should not only be on therapy, but above all on prevention.