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| Thai doctor fights against carcinogenic raw fish dish that killed his parents | Thai doctor fights against carcinogenic raw fish dish that killed his parents |
| (5 days later) | |
| A doctor in Thailand whose parents died from liver cancer after eating a much-loved raw fish dish is travelling the country’s rural north-east to warn people off the recipe. | A doctor in Thailand whose parents died from liver cancer after eating a much-loved raw fish dish is travelling the country’s rural north-east to warn people off the recipe. |
| Koi pla, a cheap plate of raw fish ground with spices and lime, is eaten by millions of Thais, especially in one of the nation’s poorest provinces, Isaan. | Koi pla, a cheap plate of raw fish ground with spices and lime, is eaten by millions of Thais, especially in one of the nation’s poorest provinces, Isaan. |
| But the meal often contains parasites that cause a type of liver cancer believed to be killing up to 20,000 Thais per year. Isaan has the highest reported instance of cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, in the world. | But the meal often contains parasites that cause a type of liver cancer believed to be killing up to 20,000 Thais per year. Isaan has the highest reported instance of cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, in the world. |
| The aggressive cancer is often caused by a parasitic flatworm – or liver fluke – native to fresh water fish in the Mekong region. | The aggressive cancer is often caused by a parasitic flatworm – or liver fluke – native to fresh water fish in the Mekong region. |
| “It’s a very big health burden around here,” Narong Khuntikeo, who went on to become a liver surgeon after he lost his parents, told Agence France-Presse. | “It’s a very big health burden around here,” Narong Khuntikeo, who went on to become a liver surgeon after he lost his parents, told Agence France-Presse. |
| “But nobody knows about this because they die quietly, like leaves falling from a tree.” | “But nobody knows about this because they die quietly, like leaves falling from a tree.” |
| Without surgery, the disease has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, according to cholangiocarcinoma charities. | Without surgery, the disease has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, according to cholangiocarcinoma charities. |
| Narong has brought together scientists, doctors and anthropologists in his fight against the “silent killer”. | Narong has brought together scientists, doctors and anthropologists in his fight against the “silent killer”. |
| His team has spent four years driving ultrasound machines and urine testing kits around the Isaan region, testing villagers for the parasite. Up to 80% of the inhabitants of some communities were found to have ingested the parasite. At a recent testing visited by AFP, a third of villagers showed abnormal liver symptoms and four were suspected to have cancer. | His team has spent four years driving ultrasound machines and urine testing kits around the Isaan region, testing villagers for the parasite. Up to 80% of the inhabitants of some communities were found to have ingested the parasite. At a recent testing visited by AFP, a third of villagers showed abnormal liver symptoms and four were suspected to have cancer. |
| “I’ve never been checked before, so I think I will probably have it because I’ve been eating [koi pla] since I was little,” said Thanin Wongseeda, a 48-year-old queueing up for the screening in Kalasin province. | “I’ve never been checked before, so I think I will probably have it because I’ve been eating [koi pla] since I was little,” said Thanin Wongseeda, a 48-year-old queueing up for the screening in Kalasin province. |
| Thanin’s test came back negative, but he said he would stay away from the uncooked fish salad from now on. | Thanin’s test came back negative, but he said he would stay away from the uncooked fish salad from now on. |
| Narong is encouraging others to do the same but it is proving difficult, especially in a country famed for and proud of its treasured local dishes, their recipes passed down across generations. | Narong is encouraging others to do the same but it is proving difficult, especially in a country famed for and proud of its treasured local dishes, their recipes passed down across generations. |
| Local health officials have introduced a school curriculum of colourful cartoons that aims to teach children about the risks of raw foods. | Local health officials have introduced a school curriculum of colourful cartoons that aims to teach children about the risks of raw foods. |
| But older generations are harder to convince, says Narong. | But older generations are harder to convince, says Narong. |
| “They’ll say: ‘Oh well, there are many ways to die,’” he said. “But I cannot accept this answer.” | “They’ll say: ‘Oh well, there are many ways to die,’” he said. “But I cannot accept this answer.” |
| Doctors recommend frying the mixture of chopped fish but many villagers say cooking the pink flesh gives it a sour flavour. | Doctors recommend frying the mixture of chopped fish but many villagers say cooking the pink flesh gives it a sour flavour. |
| “I used to come here and just catch the fish in the pond,” said Boonliang Konghakot, a farmer from Khon Kaen province. “It’s so easy to eat raw.” | “I used to come here and just catch the fish in the pond,” said Boonliang Konghakot, a farmer from Khon Kaen province. “It’s so easy to eat raw.” |