More Than 7 Lakh People Die Due to Cancer In India on Yearly Basis

“Cancer is preventable, and can be treated if detected at an early stage”, said doctors

by Priya Jadhav

Mumbai: Cancer has emerged one of the major causes of death in India. According to the date published by The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India Against Cancer and National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, over 11,57,294 lakh cancer patients are registered every year, around 2.25 million people are living with this disease. Likewise, 7,84,821 deaths related to cancer were registered in 2018. Doctors’ advice to avoid tobacco, exercise, eat healthily, opt for regular cancer screening, know the family history and get vaccinated on time.

The number of people with cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. Reportedly, top 5 cancer in men is of oral cavity and lip, lung, stomach, colorectal and esophagus while in women it is breast, lip or oral, cervix, lung and gastric. A data released by the The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India Against Cancer and National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research in 2018, revealed that .81% male and 9.425 female are at the risk of developing cancer before the age of 75. While 7.34% of males and 6.28% of females may lose their lives owing to the killer disease.

Furthermore, the report suggests that cervical cancer claims the life of one woman every 8 minutes in India. Similarly, for every 2 women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one may lose her life in India. Shockingly, mortality owing to tobacco use is around 3,500 people, per day. And tobacco-related deaths accounted for 3,17,928 deaths in men and women in 2018. The figures are harrowing, and it is essential to nip cancer in the bud.

Dr. Prashant Mullerpatan, Onco Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Mumbai “Lakhs of people in India suffer from cancer of the lung, oral, breast, stomach, cervix, liver, prostate, and blood cancer. Other cancers that tend to occur are of the skin, bladder, and esophagus, and the cancer mortality is high in India. Genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, unhealthy lifestyles, and poor immune systems, environmental factors, delayed diagnosis and the lack of medical facilities can invite various types of cancers.  This happens owing to the lack of awareness regarding this ‘deadly disease’. It is the need of the hour to educate people regarding about the treatment, symptoms, detection and prevention, inform about regular screening and check-ups, include the ill-effects of cancer in the syllabus for children, conduct drives, campaign and initiatives and dispel  myths regarding cancer.”

“Along with creating awareness regarding cancer, treatment and prevention is also equally important. The treatment of the cancer will depend on the type of cancer, location and the stage of it. Surgery, and various therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy can help patients get back on track. Likewise, preventive measures such as cutting down on tobacco, staying physically fit and maintaining a healthy weight, getting immunized and limiting alcohol consumption can be helpful. ” concluded Dr Tanveer Majeed, Oncosurgeon, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur.