CHANDIGARH,FEB 4,2020 ( By YS.Rana) : –India is ranked third in cancer cases after China and the United States of America.
Tobacco is the reason for 90% oral cancers, which can be prevented if we tackle the tobacco menace. InfactIndia is now known as the oral cancer capital of the world. Talking about cervical cancer, India recorded the highest number of deaths in 2018 as per a study in Lancet Global Health.
Today, on the World Cancer Day on February 4, the cancer specialists share that the numbers are not to create panic but to make people aware that there are cancers that can be identified early, which helps to improve the chances of successful treatment outcomes, often at lower costs and with fewer side effects for patients.
Cancer is a disease which occurs when there are changes in a group of normal cells within the body which leads to uncontrolled, abnormal growth forming a lump known as a tumour; this is true to all cancers except blood cancer. If left untreated, tumours can grow and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release hormones that may affect the body function.
As a solution to reduce the incidence and mortality of oral cancers, preventive measures need to be taken. Talking on World Cancer Day, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Deputy Director, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai, says, “I am frustrated of witnessing deaths due to oral cancer. He said that top cancers in men are oral cavity, lung, throat and oesophagus. Cancers of oral cavity and lungs account for over 25% of cancer deaths in males and cancer of breast and oral cavity account for 25% cancers in females. These cancers can be prevented, screened for and/or detected early and treated at an early stage.
It is well known that 40 percent of all cancers in India are caused by Tobacco. We can prevent 90% of oral cancers by curbing the tobacco menace.”
Tobacco control will significantly reduce the death rate from these cancers. Government needs to address the issue of Pan Masala that continues to be brazenly advertised and sold despite being carcinogenic. Similarly a central alcohol control policy is the need of the hour.
Oral cancers can be diagnosed by symptoms like throat pain, long-standing ulcers in mouth, change in voice and difficulty in chewing and swallowing. Self-examination of the oral cavity regularly is advised to people who consume tobacco. Healthy generation will make healthy India. There are many cancers which occur due to various reasons but the oral cancers are mainly due to tobacco. More and more campaigns need to be designed focusing prevention.
Sambandh Health Foundation’s Trustee, Sanjay Seth said,“State Governments are taking great initiatives by implementing campaigns such as ‘Pledge for Life – Tobacco Free Youth’ , which aims at the stopping the initiation of highly addictive tobacco products. Such landmark steps by the Governments will bring the preventable cancers down drastically in the coming years.”