"You have to accept that 40% of cancer patients are incurable"

Oncologist Fernando Rivera explains in Medical Writing how he struggles psychologically with this reality: "My defense mechanism..."

Fernando Rivera, Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Marques de Valdesilla University Hospital (Santander).

"The challenges are endless."Fernando Rivera, Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Marques de Valdesilla University Hospital (Santander), begins:

open fronts of the specialty.In their daily lives there is biomedical innovation, healthcare pressure and a reality that never softens: cancer remains "a

Serious and frequent illnesses.”

Although there are "more and more ways to help patients with new treatments and drugs," the oncologist insists

Big engine

research: "We need to research because we have many of them in development and we need to include them in order to reach them to the patients."The first big problems arise: not only to discover, but “to reach them somehow

equal and sustainable."

The more innovation and more effective treatments the better," he said.

Living with "the 40 percent"

“Managing a serious illness is difficult,” he continued.And Rivera provided devastating information: “You have to accept it

40 percent of patients do not survive.”At the same time,The joy of 60 percent getting rid of cancer doesn't go away for the other percent: “Keep in mind;

It ended up being impossible to treat many patients, it's difficult.

In this case, it admits that not always

direct preparation of these emotional processes, something will be "appreciated".Many oncologists create their own protection." If you can't do that

You have to leave this profession because it is impossible not to know how to psychologically handle the rigors of these illnesses,” he noted.

So he declares

his advice: “One of my most common ways to protect myself is

I do a lot of research.” “I do what I can, to the best of my ability, and when I can't cure a patient, I do research to try to make the future less and less.

Underdeveloped people;Research highlights the best way to address this problem.

The patient is beyond the tumor

The second challenge, Rivera says, is realizing that cancer is no longer curable

Only with chemotherapy.

molecular diagnosis, radiological diagnosis, integration of artificial intelligence, but also prevention, physical exercises,

Nutrition, psychological support," he explained.

In other words, “A

global patient management and all that that means.”

"Currently, 60 percent of cancer patients are cured," but here we have to do it

take into account the other side: “Surviving poses a series of

problems and needs that also need to be addressed.”

This broad approach is reflected in the organizational model: “If we do a good job

The development of integrated cancer centers is likely to involve multimodal management and all

aspects of the patient, including humanization”.For him, the Cancer Center is not just a structure, it is

"quality guarantee".

Humanization on a solid foundation

When asked if it is possible to save

A real human mind with a full schedule does not hide the answer: "It is very difficult."Along these lines, he gives a typical example in advice: “If you have

agenda with 30 patients, it is difficult to offer each person what they really need.

"If you have a schedule of 30 patients, it's difficult to give them what they need"

And therefore he says the first thing that the patient asks

"Be diagnosed and treated well."Then comes everything else: "Let's not forget what the basics are."

Impeccable technical part. He summed it up with a railway analogy: "A comfortable train seems nice and pretty to me, but the first thing is that it doesn't derail."

Training in the middle of the maelstrom

As a third challenge, the oncologist said that "maintaining full education", which, according to him, "is not easy for v.

orágine de innovación y de complejidad que tiene el manejo adecuado del cáncer". Y no habla solo de oncólogos, porque resalta que "

"The entire health care community is essential."

The fourth challenge is more superficial:

media." We do a lot of research and try to create something, but there are not enough resources, that is, we work

It's not enough to keep hospitals open, we need enough staff to provide the care patients need."

So he specifies that "if there are not enough and well-trained workers, things will go badly", and speaks

New profiles - biologists, statisticians - more

"New doctors should not have a three-month contract," Rivera concluded.

The information contained in Medical Writing contains statements, pronouncements and announcements from official institutions and health professionals.However, if you have any questions regarding your health, consult an appropriate healthcare professional.