Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to increase awareness on cancer, Manipal Hospitals Goa on Monday launched the “I Can Sir” campaign, aimed at educating people on timely medical intervention to detect and defeat cancer.
Addressing a gathering of oncologists and cancer survivors, Goa Cancer Society vice-president Dr D B Shetye said, “Today cancer is one of the deadliest ailments across all age groups. The campaign will educate people on cancer and how they can be more aware and informed. This will also help in removing the fear and taboo associated with cancer. I urge people to be more determined and positive to beat cancer. It is important to approach it with grit and positivity than doom and taboo,” he said.
According to the report released, cancer has increased in India, especially prostate cancer in elderly men besides kidney, penis and intestine cancer. Breast cancer accounts for 27 percent of all cancers in women in India with incidents rising in the early 30s and peaking at ages 50-64 years, while cervical cancer accounts for 22.9 percent of all cancer cases in women. Statistics provided by National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) indicate that there are about 14 lakh cancer incident cases, 38 lakh prevalent cases and 7 lakh cancer related deaths a year.
Oncology department head Dr Shekhar Salkar lamented that the ill-placed belief that a cancer patient will always die makes patients and their families refuse specialised and timely treatment. “Early detection and treatment is the key, besides making simple lifestyle changes. Regular exercise, routine health checks, balanced meals and staying away from tobacco is the mantra to keep cancer at bay,” he said.
He added that cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy. “The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumour and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient. Complete removal of the cancer without damaging the rest of the body is the ideal treatment and at times this goal is often achieved with surgery,” he said.
The hospital announced special cancer detection packages for early detection.
