Globally, cancer claims 9.6 million lives each year. By 2030, this number is projected to increase to 13 million. In India, statistics from the National Cancer Registry Programmer of the India Council of Medical Research reveal that more than 1,300 Indians die every day to cancer. Evidently, cancer is a pervasive killer in our country. What most people don’t realize, however, is that cancer is also a largely avoidable killer – in fact, more than one-third of cancer cases can be prevented, while another third can be cured with early detection and treatment.
Cancer in India
There has been a shift in the average age at which patients are diagnosed with cancer, from 55 to 40 years. Lung, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer are the most common types of cancer in the country. In recent times, the number of diagnosed cases has risen significantly; this increase has been found to directly correspond to the rising prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, poor eating habits (dominated by processed, packaged foods) and exposure to environmental carcinogenic toxins, especially in urban India.
Tobacco use is a risk factor for 14 types of cancer, while alcohol and drug use can increase the risk for eight cancer types. Poor diet can also increase the risk for eight types of cancer. Unsafe sex is the biggest risk factor for cervical cancer – the second most common cancer type in women. The profile of cancer is the country is also changing. For instance, while breast cancer was the fourth-most common type of cancer in 1990, in 2016, it became the most common type of cancer in women. This increase can be attributed to risk factors such as women giving birth to their first child at a later age and rising obesity levels. Similarly, prostate cancer is now the tenth most common type of cancer, up from its 17th position in 1990.
Where do you come in?
Translate your willingness to educate yourself about cancer and commit to regular screenings, as well as timely preventative measures. While conversations around cancer are often mired by stigma and, consequently, faulty assumptions and beliefs, in recent years, the trend has begun to change with celebrities such as cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and actors Sonali Bendre, Lisa Ray, and Manisha Koirala championing the cause by sharing their struggles with the disease.
At the same time, these conversations must be backed by consciously committing to healthier lifestyle choices and dietary habits. HPV vaccinations, regular health check-ups, self-examining for lumps, avoiding excessive exposure to harmful UV radiation from the sun and cutting back on tobacco consumption can go a long way in aiding early detection and enabling timely treatment. Finally, it is important to educate yourself about treatment options – not many people know that while chemotherapy was considered the de facto treatment, especially for advanced cancers, today, several other alternatives are available.
For instance, the introduction of proton therapy ensures that tumour cells are targeted with more precision, thereby preventing damage to healthy tissues and organs. This therapy has been found to be most effective in treating tumours of the prostate, brain, head and neck, central nervous system, lung, and gastrointestinal system as well as cancers that cannot be removed completely by surgery. Several other types of targeted therapies, including such as the breast cancer drug called Herceptin, aim at the specific genes and proteins in cancer cells related to cancer growth. Immunotherapy treatments stimulate an individual’s own immune system to fight cancer. They include monoclonal antibodies, man-made versions of immune system proteins, checkpoint inhibitors that help the body recognise and attack cancer cells, and cancer vaccines. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, where a type of the body’s immune cells called T cells are genetically altered in the lab to better fight cancer cells, can also revolutionise the way cancer is treated.
About Dr. Rajas B Patel, Medical Oncologist
Taking healthcare to the next level and making lives easier to live, RH Clinic has established market goodwill as the best cancer clinic in Mumbai for serving high-grade medical facilities. It creates opportunities in the forms of treatment for the patients. Working towards providing utmost care with advance treatment in practice, RH Clinic has managed to set highest standards. Since first day of operation, Dr. Rajas Patel has been active in understanding the problems of the patients well and ensure extensive care. He has also been facilitated and awarded ‘The Best Oncologist Award’ by World Health and Wellness Congress and Award.Over the years of operations, we have gained tremendous experience in organizing medical activities with utmost precision. The doctors and medical practitioners at Navi Mumbai RH Clinic are well-qualified to handle complex of situations in a smarter way. Indeed, we have best medical oncologist in seawoods, Navi Mumbai and even Mumbai. We make sure that professional care is provided to the patients through assistance of best cancer clinic in Mumbai. It should be noted that cancer is a dreadful disease and requires proper intensive care to get rid of. This makes it necessary to approach consultant cancer specialist, who is adept at customizing treatment plans for the patients.