It is heartening to hear our Indian born Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee remarking that cancer is controllable with some simple steps, as cancer is not one single disease but a combination of many diseases.
He suggests
- putting in place a strong tobacco control programme as minimizing tobacco use will cut down long cancer
- Initiation of sexual health education to prevent sexually transmitted cancers like cervical & oral and encourage vaccination. Cervical cancer is initiated by a virus and is a completely preventable disease by vaccination and changes in sexual practice
- conduct of mammography and screening of vulnerable women, and those above age of 50, for breast cancers ; Routine mammography can diagnose and treat breast cancer early.
- start screening for and vaccination against Hepatitis B, that causes liver cancer;
- creating centralized systems modeled on comprehensive cancer centers in the US that allow researchers to share date and engage in high quality clinical work
According to him , none of these prevention mechanisms are complicated and requires only the will of the larger authorities.
Why India has suddenly reported a massive spurt in cancer cases- 10 lakhs new patients every year and four lakhs deaths? In addition to ageing, early and accurate diagnosis is helping to attribute the exact cause of death that did not happen before. Environmental carcinogens also seem to be playing a major role, in addition to the increase in tobacco smoking, which is another major determinant
He adds that the Oncologists in India are exceptional and the kind of work done by them in a place that does not have much resources is unbelievable. The volume of patients is enormous despite which doctors show so much of compassion. Surgeons operating in less than ideal circumstances are making impressive deliveries. So there is no lack of committed medical staff, but what is required are some alterations in policy. Let us hope the Government hears this Delhi boy turned US based Medical historian, soon.
He suggests
- putting in place a strong tobacco control programme as minimizing tobacco use will cut down long cancer
- Initiation of sexual health education to prevent sexually transmitted cancers like cervical & oral and encourage vaccination. Cervical cancer is initiated by a virus and is a completely preventable disease by vaccination and changes in sexual practice
- conduct of mammography and screening of vulnerable women, and those above age of 50, for breast cancers ; Routine mammography can diagnose and treat breast cancer early.
- start screening for and vaccination against Hepatitis B, that causes liver cancer;
- creating centralized systems modeled on comprehensive cancer centers in the US that allow researchers to share date and engage in high quality clinical work
According to him , none of these prevention mechanisms are complicated and requires only the will of the larger authorities.
Why India has suddenly reported a massive spurt in cancer cases- 10 lakhs new patients every year and four lakhs deaths? In addition to ageing, early and accurate diagnosis is helping to attribute the exact cause of death that did not happen before. Environmental carcinogens also seem to be playing a major role, in addition to the increase in tobacco smoking, which is another major determinant
He adds that the Oncologists in India are exceptional and the kind of work done by them in a place that does not have much resources is unbelievable. The volume of patients is enormous despite which doctors show so much of compassion. Surgeons operating in less than ideal circumstances are making impressive deliveries. So there is no lack of committed medical staff, but what is required are some alterations in policy. Let us hope the Government hears this Delhi boy turned US based Medical historian, soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment