No end to cancer menace
Friday - February 28, 2020 1:38 pm ,
Category : WTN SPECIAL
WTN- Despite years of efforts at controlling cancer through scientific research and advancements in diagnosis and care, the disease burden on our society sees no reduction. Rather the prevalence is only rising. A recent study by WHO says that one in 15 Indians will die of cancer, even as the world could see 60 per cent rise in cancer cases. In 2018, India alone had 1.16 million new cancer cases, with close to 7.85 lakh deaths.
Lung cancer, oral cancer, cancer of the oesophagus, cervical cancer and breast cancer account for over 50 per cent of new cancer cases in the country. A major section of the afflicted has smoking, chewing tobacco or drinking habits that aggravate the chances of cancer. If people have access to primary care and referral systems then cancer can be detected early, treated effectively and cured. But unfortunately, it hardly happens in a country like India where expenses associated with healthcare, especially cancer and the stigma attached to the disease bar people from getting timely medical attention.
By strong cancer responses on universal health coverage, and by mobilising different stakeholders to work together, over seven million lives can be saved globally every year, says WHO. But as it is said, prevention is always better than cure, and attention must also be paid on how to reduce the triggers that portend cancer threat. This comes from education, awareness and campaigns. We need to educate and inform people on the dos and don’ts and how not to create conditions that can lead to chances of cancer in future. Ignorance plays a major part in pushing people into unhealthy habits and faulty lifestyle practices that pave the way for cancer.
What to eat, how to maintain a regular routine of timely lunch and dinner, how to ensure the right amount of sleep, the right balance of work and exercise, how to keep the mind relaxed and tension-free etc. are some of the basic things many of us don’t know or don’t rigidly follow and here we make way for different kinds of diseases.
The government along with NGOs must mount a sustained campaign to wean people away from detrimental habits like smoking or drinking and show them the dangers of cancer – how apart from taking lives, it ruins families financially. The modes of media must show more informative content on cancer and ways of prevention as well as early detection, that is a key to saving of lives.
We need to talk and discuss more about it than shunning and shelving it. Measures must be taken to control pollution by greater use of e-vehicles and public transport and controlling industrial smoke my relocating them and/or planting more trees, to stave off chances of lung cancer. Investment must also be made in research and development of anti-cancer drugs as well as primary healthcare sector to cater to the needs of the rural and lower middle class/poor class populace in early diagnosis/detection for more effective. - Window To News
