The death (rate) is a serious concern for us...the reported deaths are 30 thousand to 31 thousand.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia sees 34 thousand new cases of lung cancer every year, with the number of deaths reaching 30 thousand to 31 thousand, according to the Ministry of Health.

"The death (rate) is a serious concern for us...the reported deaths are 30 thousand to 31 thousand," head of the ministry's communication and public service bureau, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said during a discussion on lung cancer here on Tuesday.

The high death rate can be attributed to delays in the treatment of lung cancer patients, she added. According to her, the recovery rate for cancer patients can reach 90 percent, if they are treated early.

For this reason, early detection and prevention efforts outlined in the health transformation program of the Ministry of Health are key measures that must be carried out to improve the quality of life of lung cancer patients, she said.

One of the efforts, she expounded, is screening for early detection of 14 types of diseases. This includes screening for lung cancer for a number of at-risk groups.

"The screening targets for lung cancer are those aged over 45 years, (who) have a history of active smoking, or those who have just stopped smoking less than 15 years," she added.

She informed that the targets include people who have a family history of cancer. This is indicated by a score issued during screening.

To make prevention efforts more optimal, she appealed to the community to avoid consuming tobacco and its derivative products since tobacco consumption is a major contributing factor to lung cancer.

Tarmizi also highlighted the importance of carrying out the CERDIK measures, which consist of routine health checks, eliminating cigarette smoke, consuming a balanced diet, getting enough rest, and controlling stress.

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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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