“Cancer was the 6th leading cause of death in the world in 1900 but now it has become the 2nd leading cause. Every year 11 lakh patients suffer cancer. As a community we can reduce the impact of cancer in the society and that is what this year’s theme of World Cancer Day 2020 is all about”, said Dr. C. Anand Narayan, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, GKNMH at the cancer awareness program, organized by the Hospital.
More than 250 participants from schools like Mani Higher Secondary School, GKNMH’s Nursing Students and from public attended this program. Dr.C.Anand said that the common symptoms of cancer include unusual delay in healing of wound, bleeding, prolonged difficulty in swallowing, chronic indigestion, cough and continuous bowel/urination difficulty.
The causes, he said, are of two kinds- genetic and environmental. Cancer due to genetic causes cannot be prevented but only 5% cancers are of this category. He said if a person avoids smoking, alcohol, obesity and sedentary lifestyle , he is at a lower risk of encountering cancer. “Sitting is the new smoking”, and if a person remain physically inactive, he/she is at higher risk of cancer. “Early detection of cancer can prevent 65% of life loss”, he mentioned.
South India is far ahead of North in offering treatment for cancer, he said. At the same time he said that people develop unnecessary fear about going for check-ups and screenings. He advised that all government hospitals and private hospitals will have Non-Communicable Diseases Ward (NCD) in which they can check/screen whether they are at risk of cancer. This ward, Dr.C.Anand, said is available in all hospitals and post 30 years of age women and men should go for health checkup.
Earlier there was a ‘villupaatu’ based cancer awareness program by the Nursing students of GKNMH.