World Cancer Day
According to India Today, the rate of death due to cancer is growing at eleven percent annually and there are 2.5 million cancer cases and four lakh deaths a year in the country. No wonder cancer is the second biggest cause of death in India. While the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer was six lakhs in 1991, the figure has now gone up to eight lakhs. To mark World Cancer Day, Shwetha Kannan gets doctors to tell you all about this dreaded affliction that is, in the end, just another disease. Most important, you should know that with timely medication and the right attitude, you can fight it successfully.
Rise and rise
The statistics for cancer cases in India might seem a bit disheartening because they suggest a rise in cancer cases but so are the number of cases being cured. Incidentally, Mumbai seems to defy the overall statistics and shows a decline in the number of cancer cases among women and men.
“According to the predictions done by a publication GLOBOCAN 2008, in India there would be an annual increase of 2.8 per cent in cancer cases among men and women. However, in Mumbai, the trends analysis done by the Mumbai Cancer Registry shows that there is a decline of 0.875 per cent in cancer among men and there is a 0.31 percent decline in cancer among women,” said Dr. Surendra Shastri, Professor & Head, Department of Preventive Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre.
Developments in cancer treatment:
The latest development in the treatment of cancer is MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Treatment which is used to treat cancer of the bone, prostrate, uterus, breast and brain.
“This is a non-invasive surgical treatment which focuses only on the tumour and destroys it without disturbing the other healthy tissues. The patient can go home the same day or latest by next morning and can resume normal work immediately. Since it is non-invasive, there are no side effects or complications. It also makes the tumour more susceptible to chemotherapy so the procedure works better,” said Dr. Shrinivas B. Desai, Director, Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Jaslok Hospital.
Ways to keep cancer from affecting fertility:
Speaking about techniques that can help preserve one’s fertility, Dr. Suman Bijlani, Director, Gyneguide said, “One is cryopreservation which is generally done for pre-pubertal girls where the ovarian tissue is taken and preserved in deep freeze. This can be later auto-transplanted. The second method is stimulating the ovary to produce lots of eggs, preserve them in deep freeze to use later for conception. The third method is getting the eggs, mixing them with sperm, creating an embryo and preserving the embryo. And the fourth method is an injection named Gonadotropin - releasing hormone analogues which is given before chemotherapy begins. This injection protects the ovaries from the effects of chemotherapy. For men, the sperm can be preserved before treatment begins.”
“Cancer as such does not affect the fertility but if the cancer is in the reproductive organs like the uterus, cervix or the ovaries for women and testis or penis for men, then fertility might be affected,” said Bijlani.
Fear of diagnosis and hard to accept…
“There is a fear of being diagnosed with cancer. It is known that a breast lump, especially in post menopausal ladies is mostly cancer. So women just avoid going to a doctor, afraid that their fears will be confirmed. Poverty also is a reason. Not many can afford treatment so don’t consult a doctor and try to pull on,” said Dr. Anil Heroor, Surgical Oncologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
Speaking about the stages after diagnosis, Dr Heroor further said, “Most patients who are diagnosed with cancer, are in a state of denial. This cannot happen to me. I cannot have cancer, is what they feel. They want to re-check, re-confirm, get a second opinion. The next stage is depression. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? And then finally there is gradual acceptance. Around ninety per cent of people go through these stages but there is ten per cent that takes the diagnosis in its stride and starts treatment immediately.”
“Cancer is a disease just like any other disease. Don’t people live with hypertension or diabetes? So don’t avoid diagnosis or treatment. Unfortunately, cancer is a part of our future,” said Dr. Shastri.
- Side effects of radio therapy:
Rashes, eruption and pigmentation on the skin, scarring, inflammation and soreness, ulcers in the mouth, diarrhoea, nausea, hair loss, dryness in eyes and mouth.
- Side effects of Chemotherapy:
Vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, hair loss, reduced immunity, susceptibility to infection, anaemia, decrease in blood platelet, damage to kidney, brain, liver, heart and ear. It may effect the gonads leading to infertility.
- How is Mumbai creating awareness:
Tata Memorial Centre provides free cancer check up from February 4 to February 12 for men and women. Call on 022-24154379 for more details. It is also holding awareness campaigns and oral cancer check up at BEST bus depots from February 4 to February 12 along with Smokefree Mumbai.
Kohinoor Hospital is organising a procession involving NGOs and schools to spread the message to keep at bay one of the major causes of cancer, i.e smoking. A giant eco-friendly dummy of a cigarette will be carried in a truck carrying the message of Live Life, Stop Smoking. There will be talks about cancer prevention. The dummy of the cigarette will be burnt at Samaj Mandir Hall Ground, signifying the cremation of the habit.