Tougher on Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease. Nevertheless, the malady can be cured. Cancer is terrible, but it can be drawn out of a patient’s “bunker” and destroyed.

KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO

Dr. Ario Djatmiko, a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer, is a senior member of the Indonesian Doctors Association and the Indonesian Cancer Foundation. He is also the founder of the Surabaya Oncology Hospital and the Reach to Recovery Surabaya, a breast cancer survivor and support group.

Dr. Ario Djatmiko’s discovery of a tumor less than 4 millimeters in a patient, Ibu Setiawan, made history in breast cancer management and treatment in Indonesia. The mini tumor, which appeared calcified spots in the patient’s mammogram image, could be virulent.

The tumor had to be surgically removed and examined at a laboratory to ascertain the degree of “malignant threat” it posed to the patient.