"You have to accept that 40% of cancer patients are not cured"

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

Fernando Rivera, haad fan 'e Medical Oncology Service by it Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (Santander).

"The problems are endless," says Fernando Rivera, head of the medical oncology service at the Marques de Valdecilla University Hospital (Santander), when asked about it.

open front of the profession.In their daily lives, biomedical innovations, healthcare pressures and a dwindling reality coexist: Cancer remains a “dangerous disease.”

severe and frequent illness”.

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

good machine

research: "We have to learn because there are many in development and we have to introduce ourselves to reach patients."Here is the first of the great challenges: not only to find, but to "introduce yourself in some way."

appropriate and sustainable."

The more innovation and practical training, the better,” he said.

Life is "40 percent"

"It's hard to deal with a serious illness," he continued. Then Rivera delivers a startling revelation. "You have to accept it.

40 percent of patients are not sane.

After all, you have so many patients who can't get better, it's hard.

In this context, it is accepted that there is no constant

necessary preparation for this emotional effect, something to be "experienced."Many oncologists undoubtedly develop their own defenses."If you can't

We must leave the profession because it is impossible without knowing how to psychologically manage the seriousness of this illness,” he declared.

Then he reveals it

his own approach: “One of my frequent defense mechanisms is

I do a lot of research.""I do everything I can, the best I can in what's available, and if I can't cure a patient, I do research to try to make it smaller and smaller in the future.

people who explain badly", he explains, emphasizing that "research is a very good way to face this problem."

The patient goes beyond the tumor

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

only with chemotherapy."The patient, apart from receiving certain drugs, has many other treatments such as multimodal,

Molecular detection, radiation detection, and artificial intelligence integration can also be used for prevention, physical exercise,

Nutrition, psychosocial support," he explained.

It means, “one

global patient management with all that that entails.

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

Consider also the second aspect: "There is a chain of life.

problems and the need to solve them."

This holistic approach is embodied in an organizational model: “If we work well

the development of integrated cancer centers will eventually include multimodal management and all

Patient aspects including humanization.For him, a comprehensive cancer center is not just a structure, it is

"quality assurance".

Humanity with solid foundations

When asked if it can be maintained

Genuine human concerns over saturated agendas don't cover the answer: "It's very difficult." Along these lines, he gives an example every day in consultation: "If you have

An agenda of 30 patients, it is difficult to separate what each patient really needs.

"If you have a routine of 30 patients, it's hard to give them what they really need"

He says it's the first thing patients ask.

"to be properly diagnosed and treated."Then comes everything else: “Let's not forget what the basics are.”For him, humanization begins with "treatment, diagnosis and...

Poor technology." He concludes with a railroad metaphor: "Comfortable trains look all well and good to me, but the first thing is that they don't turn."

Training between drops

The oncologist mentions "maintaining adequate preparation" as a third challenge, which he says is "not easy in such a situation."

is a source of innovation and complexity in the proper management of cancer.” And he's not just talking about oncologists, as he points out.

"The health team is important."

The fourth problem is earthly: the

Media "We are doing a lot of research and trying to change, but there is not enough provision of resources, that is, we are working

Inadequate environment.” He addresses the most physical and human aspects: “It's not enough to open a hospital, we have to have enough staff to care for patients.”

In doing so, he notes that "if there aren't enough well-trained personnel, things will go badly", and he talks about

New profiles - biology, statistics - and also

relevant conditions."It can't be that new doctors are constantly on three-month contracts," Rivera concludes.

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