THE Roche Group, the world’s leading provider of cancer treatments, brought to Cebu this week the annual Roche Asia Oncology Forum (RAOF), gathering hundreds of doctors to discuss new means of treating cancer.

Held for the first time in Cebu, in partnership with the Philippine Society of Medical Oncologists (PSMO), the forum will wrap up today.

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In a recent study, the American Cancer Society reported that over 1.5 million people are diagnosed and over 3,000 people die of lung cancer yearly.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death among most Asian regions, including Southeast Asia, Roche said in a press statement.

Smoking is the main culprit in lung cancer, causing as much as 80 percent of occurrences in males and 50 percent in females.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that smoking among Asians is the most prevalent in the world.

Another cause is the massive intake of harmful gasses emitted by manufacturing plants and vehicles, among others.

Current possible treatments for the disease include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, all of which are recommended at certain phases depending on the severity of the disease.

However, oncologists are offering “biologic therapies” like bevazicumab, which can be combined with a wide range of chemotherapies, allowing greater flexibility for physicians to make the most of patient care.

In addition to its portfolio of cancer medicines, Roche is also developing new diagnostic tests that are expected to have a significant impact on disease management.

The current projection for the burden of cancer in Asia suggest that if prevention and management strategies remain unchanged, the incidence will increase from 3.5 million in 2002 to 8.1 million by 2020. (PR)