Indore hospital to launch cancer awareness programmes, set up check-up centres

The Indore district hospital will set up a check-up camp to detect breast, head and neck cancer and also launch awareness programmes across the city on the occasion of the of the National Cancer Awareness Day on Monday.

The Indore district hospital will set up a check-up camp to detect breast, head and neck cancer and also launch awareness programmes across the city on the occasion of the of the National Cancer Awareness Day on Monday.

Special check-up centres set up for three types of cancer

“We have set up special check-up centres for the three types of cancer–head and neck cancer among men and breast cancer among women –that are prevalent in the state,” said Dr Dilip Acharya, chairman of Indian Medical Associations’ national tobacco control committee.

Pap smear, which helps to detect cervical cancer and pathological tests to check for mouth for mouth cancer are some of the facilities which will be provided at district hospital.

Data of Globcon, a body that surveys the incidence rate of cancer in the country, states that in India more than 10.1 lakh new cancer cases were detected in 2012 with 6.8 lakh deaths.

By 2020, the country have more than 12.4 lakh new cancer cases with 8.44 lakh deaths and presently more than 1.8 million people in India are living with cancer.

‘More than 40% of cancer can be prevented’

More than 40% of cancer can be prevented and one-third of the disease can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment, Acharya says and adds that unhealthy lifestyle is one of the main causes of cancer.

Smoking and chewing tobacco is one of the biggest cancer risk factor, he says. “Tobacco use alone accounts for 12 lakh deaths every year. Reducing the rates of tobacco use will significantly decrease the global burden of 13 different types of cancers, including lung, oral cavity among others.

“Alcohol use has also been linked to cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver and breast.”