Early diagnosis saves lives in cancer!

Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication organized the "LÖSEV Social Responsibility Benefit Project" event in collaboration with the Department of Visual Communication Design and Department of Cartoon and Animation. The event featured guest speaker Şeyda Doğu, the Project Coordinator of LÖSEV’s Benefit Project. During her speech, Doğu provided information about the Benefit Project and emphasized the critical role that volunteers play in LÖSEV’s mission. She also drew attention to the increasing number of people being diagnosed with cancer and stressed that early diagnosis saves lives.

The event took place at the Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall on Üsküdar University’s South Campus, with the attendance of Prof. And Algül, Head of the Department of Visual Communication Design, and Assoc. Prof. Cem Tutar, Head of the Cartoon and Animation Department.

Prof. And Algül: “Let’s not forget that kindness is contagious”

Highlighting that seemingly small contributions can lead to significant changes when combined, Prof. And Algül said: “Today, we have come together not only to meet but to make a difference, contribute to society, and offer hope. Social responsibility is the transformation of our individual sensitivity into a societal benefit. When all of our small efforts come together, they can open the door to great change. Our main goal in organizing this event was to raise awareness, support those in need, and foster the spirit of solidarity. Seeing how your presence gives meaning to this goal has made us proud and hopeful. Let’s not forget that kindness is contagious.”

Assoc. Prof. Cem Tutar: “We need to stand side by side”

Assoc. Prof. Cem Tutar, Head of the Cartoon and Animation Department stated: “In areas where government mechanisms fall short, people must come together in solidarity within the public sphere. LÖSEV is one of the best organizations doing just that. They have been providing services in this field for years with transparency, accountability, and a spirit of sharing. In today’s urban life, we live hyper-individualized lives. We need each other’s support more than ever, and we need to stand side by side. Let this event be a step in that direction.”

Şeyda Doğu: “So many people are being diagnosed with cancer”

Emphasizing the global increase in cancer cases, Şeyda Doğu, LÖSEV Benefit Project Coordinator, shared: “In a 2022 study, we observed 20 million cancer cases. Worldwide, the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is alarmingly high. Unfortunately, nearly half of them die as a result of cancer. When we look at the global figures, the ratio is quite high. The widespread nature of cancer is largely due to our diet and environmental factors. There are many factors at play, including the way individuals live their lives. Lung cancer is the most common, and sadly, it also has the highest mortality rate.”

“Early diagnosis truly saves lives”

Doğu discussed the prevalent fear of going to the doctor and highlighted the need to think long-term about one’s health: “Early diagnosis truly saves lives. We see recovery rates of up to 80%. However, when diagnosis is delayed, recovery rates can drop to 20%, or even lower depending on the type of cancer. In our country, the biggest issue is fear of going to the doctor. Especially among adults, there is this idea of ‘It is nothing serious, it will go away on its own, I’ll just take a painkiller.’ This mentality is very common and very wrong. If there is a symptom, it should be followed up, and one should go to the hospital. Those small signs may actually be important indicators for us. We should not just live for today; we need to act with our lifetime in mind.”

Using tobacco products increases the risk of cancer!

Touching on cancer-causing factors and critical points to be aware of, Doğu stated: “The way a person lives directly affects their likelihood of getting cancer. What I want to emphasize most here is tobacco products. Tobacco is the most accessible and one of the most harmful substances. Smoking causes harmful substances to accumulate in our lungs. It has been scientifically proven that tobacco use is linked to at least 20 types of cancer. Therefore, using tobacco significantly increases our risk of developing cancer. We urge everyone to avoid using tobacco products and to stay away from environments where they are used. As for alcohol, excessive and continuous use is critical. Continuous use causes harm to the body, and damage to the liver can increase the risk of cancer. The same goes for artificial sweeteners and processed foods. Today, we all consume packaged products. Many additives are included in these foods to extend shelf life or lower the cost, and these accumulate in our bodies, increasing our cancer risk. The content of the products we consume is now very complex. That is why it is so important to check what is in what we are eating.”

“We want to raise awareness with young people”

Speaking about the aim of the LÖSEV Benefit Project, Doğu said: “The Benefit Project is a university-level initiative. It is a project we created to come together with young people, invite them to healthy living, and raise awareness. Our institutional ambassador program is a network we have built with our working volunteers. But our main goal is to engage with university students and raise awareness together with them.”

The event concluded with a group photo.

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)