On eve of world cancer day 2012,
Cancer experts discussed about the magnitude of problem despite all efforts and
steps taken by the Govt., Cancer burden is increasing to the level of epidemic.
Problem persists in taking a horrifying turn because though we have cancer
control programs, the measures taken are not serious to enough to instigate oneself
to really quit smoking tobacco which is one of the major causes of cancer. Laws
are not stringent enough and cancer is now taking a serious turn of killing
young adults and teenagers due to lack of awareness about the harmful effects.
Head and neck and lung cancers remain the major killers.
Speaking on eve of world cancer day
2012 Dr. N. K. Pandey, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of
Medical Sciences, Faridabad and Dr. B.C. Roy National Award Winner said that
chewing and smoking tobacco is becoming very popular and is like status symbol
in young generation. Ready availability and mushrooming of hookah parlors and
tobacco joints. It has become the most popular places of hangouts after
college.
Hookah smokers think that it is
less harmful than cigarettes, but the fact is that it carries same risk as cigarette.
Smokeless tobacco / chewing tobacco causes deleterious effect on oral cavity
and causes tongue buccal mucosa, floor of mouth and other head and neck cancers
which not only compromises the quality of life but sometimes there is no life
at all.
Lack of exercises, unhealthy eating
habits exposure to environmental pollution, pesticides and adulterated food we
consume are some of the modifiable risk factors which can cause 80-90% cancers.
Cancer is a growing epidemic in
India and prevalence on the estimated cancer risk at any given point of time is
approximately 2-3 million with over 8-9 lakhs cases being detected every year.
5.5 lakh patients die due to cancer every year. And 70-80 % cancer cases are
treated in third or fourth stage. When the curative treatment may not be
offered to them and only some palliation is possible to reduce the symptoms.
If we have to conquer the disease
we will have to prevent it from happening, we can only do it by preventing the
risk factors of which tobacco abuse is the major cause. We have to improve
eating habits, dietary fibers of plant origin has protective role against
cancer. Lack of exercise sedentary life style leads to obesity may be
potentially harmful.
Dr. Manav Manchanda further added
“lung cancer cases and COPD cases are also on the rise due to the person
inhaling second-hand smoke, industrial carcinogens like asbestos, air and
vehicular pollution. Though it is a well established fact that tobacco use has
been recognized as one of the biggest public health hazard, we need to curb
other factors too such as rising levels of environmental pollution and
industrial pollution and use of asbestos.
Stressing on management of cancer
Dr. Pandey said aware society is a healthy society. Cause of cancer may not be
well understood thus early detection and prompt treatment can result in better
out come because advanced disease leads to psychological and financial burden
and poor treatment out come.
Dr. Neetu Singhal, Sr. Consultant,
Radiation Oncology said that timely diagnosis and early treatment is the only
way to control the epidemic. Today modern and sophisticated diagnostic tools
are available to not only diagnose early lesions but also lesions in
premalignant stage which are likely to develop into frank malignancy if not
treated in time. Earlier when patients had to be treated with old techniques
leading to a lot of side effects, with new era treatment better surgical techniques,
new molecules in chemotherapy and better radiation machines with IMRT, IGRT,
Stereo tactic and cyber knife; these machines can not only treat early diseases
without much side effects but also can lead to organ preservation especially in
case of breast, larynx and rectal malignancy.
To conclude, way to cure of cancer
may be long but efforts have to be sincere and strong. More stringent laws for
tobacco cessation are required and better awareness about the disease is
required. As a team healthcare professional should work together with Govt., NGOs,
Media and likeminded people to educate the society about the cause and treatment
of this major killer today.
On the occasion World Cancer Day,
we should take this pledge to help our society to grow into disease free Nation
by putting our genuine efforts towards prevention, early diagnosis and cure of
disease ………that is Cancer.
Shailesh Jha - 9650099099
Rahul Sharma – 9968939756
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