'70% of Indian cancers preventable'
Cancer continues to be dreaded because few realise that timely diagnosis and treatment can cure most types of tumours.Fewer still know that cancer can be prevented by healthy lifestyle. It is to make people aware of these that All India Institute of Medical Sciences started a cancer prevention clinic last week.At the clinic, families of patients are counselled about the risk of familial cancers and screening tests available to diagnose them at an early stage to reduce mortality rates.
At present, doctors say survival rate for most cancers stagnates at 20% because a majority of the patients come when the disease is already in the advanced, or III and IV, stages. "If cancer is detected early , 80% patients can be cured of the disease," asserted Dr GK Rath, chief of AIIMS' cancer centre, the Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital.
The AIIMS' cancer facility began functioning in 198384 with 35 beds on two floors.At present, there are 182 beds, six of them in ICU. Doctors say the patient burden has increased multifold during this period, one reason being the cost of treatment. "Poor people cannot afford private treatment for a disease like cancer because it costs Rs 5 lakh-40 lakh."
A recent event organised by Indian Cancer Society (ICS) also highlighted how creating awareness about preventive measures could help fight the disease. "Once you get cancer, it is difficult to get cured. It's better to understand the disease and keep it at bay ," said Jyotsna Govil, vice-chairperson, ICS. According to a review on preventable cancers in India published by oncologists from AIIMS in an international journal, 70% of Indian cancers (40% tobacco-related, 20% infection-related and 10% others) are caused by potentially modifiable and preventable risk factors.
24.10.2017
Nothing will work unless you do
Maya Angelou
No comments:
Post a Comment