According to the American Cancer Society, there are an estimated 2.5 million cases of cancer in India at any given time. Nearly 80,000 new cases were diagnosed every year and there are approx 5,50,000 deaths due to cancer every year. Tobacco-related cancers account for almost one-third of all cancers in India—predominantly head and neck, lung, and esophageal cancers. The two most common cancers among Indian women are those of the cervical and breast. What is most disheartening is that many of these cancers can either be prevented altogether or treated effectively if detected early. Worse, yet, more than 70% of all cancers in India are found when the disease is so advanced that treatment is much less effective.
The world is changing and the changes do bring negative effects on society. Today, people live under lot of mental pressure, which directly affect the mental as well as physical health. The joint family support system has also vanished with social change. People easily fall for habits under peer group pressure to reduce the stress that causes diseases like cancer.
To accept cancer is very difficult for the patient and for his family members. They need emotional support through out the treatment period.
Most important is basic awareness about symptoms of cancer and early diagnosis of the diseases. A large number of the cancer cases can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage.
So, why not to do something about it? |
