I. Introduction
Non-communicable diseases such as cancer are emerging as one
of the major public health care problems in India. Cancer awareness helps in
the early detection and better health-seeking behavior in the general
public. Cancer screenings and early diagnosis are important in better
treatment of the condition and also encourage lifestyle modifications to
prevent cancer.
With a rapid increase in the number of cancer cases in
India, there is also an increase in the growing awareness of the condition.
Advances in medical science have enabled early diagnosis and advanced treatment
options for cancer.
II. Cancer Prevalence in India
The approximate number of incident cancer cases in India for
the year 2022 was found to be approximately 14,61,427. Approximately one in
nine people in India are likely to get cancer in his or her lifetime.
According to the data provided by the National Center
Registry, India will have 8,00,000 new cases of cancer every year.
According to the GLOBOCAN 2018 survey, the top five cancers that
affect the people of India are breast, lung, oral, cervical, and gastric.
III. The Role of Awareness in Cancer Prevention
The aim of awareness campaigns in India is to create cancer
awareness among the general population of India. These campaigns aim to
separate the cancer myths from the facts, inform people about the common signs
and symptoms of cancer, and encourage screenings for early cancer detection.
They also aim to encourage people to follow a healthy lifestyle to reduce the
risk of cancer development and also help in sharing the stories of cancer
survivors to give a message of confidence and hope.
Some of the key lifestyle factors that should be encouraged
to help in reducing the risk of developing cancer include the following:
- Quit smoking and avoid the use of tobacco
- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid direct sun exposure
- Stay updated with all your vaccinations
- Have safe sex
- Avoid sharing of needles
- Have regular health checkups and screenings
Ujala Cygnus Hospitals, recognized as the best hospital in Rewari, is a group
of hospitals across India that is working towards providing quality medical
services at an affordable cost to the urban and rural population of the
country. The hospital chain plays a key role in providing a helping hand to
cancer awareness programs stressing the importance of regular cancer screenings
across the country. The chain of hospitals has well-equipped oncology
departments to provide cancer screening and treatment facilities to the people
of India.
IV. Early Detection and Screening
Early detection of cancer can help the person affected in
several ways. Early diagnosis of cancer has the following benefits:
- Early treatment intervention
- Prevention of cancer from developing further
- Higher chances of successful cancer treatment
- Higher survival rates
- Better quality of life
Cancer screening methods help in detecting the early signs
of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions before any symptoms are seen. The
different cancer screening methods available in India are:
- Oral examination for mouth cancer detection
- Physical examination to check for unusual lumps in the
body
- Blood tests for cancer detection
- Pap smear test for cervical cancer detection in
women
- Mammogram and breast examination for breast cancer
detection in women
- Genetic tests for cancer
- PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) test for prostate cancer
detection in men
V. Cancer Treatment Options
There are many cancer treatment options available in India.
The main cancer treatment options are:
- Surgery: The procedure involves the surgical removal of
the entire cancer or as much of the cancer as possible.
- Chemotherapy: This procedure involves the use of certain
medications to kill the cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy: This procedure involves the use of
high-powered energy beams to kill the cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: This therapy involves the use of the body’s
immune system to kill the cancer cells.
- Targeted therapy: Medications that focus on specific
abnormalities within the cancer cells are used to kill the cancer cells in this
therapy.
- Hormone therapy: This procedure involves the removal or
blockage of certain hormones to prevent the cancer cells from growing.
- Bone marrow transplant: The procedure involves the replacement
of the diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells from the
patient or a donor.
- Cryoablation: This process involves killing the cancer
cells with cold.
- Radiofrequency ablation: This procedure involves the use
of electrical energy to heat the cancer cells, leading to their death.
VI. Advancements in Cancer Research
Many clinical trials are going on to find new and advanced
techniques to treat cancer. Some of the key advancements in cancer research
include:
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Photodynamic therapy (use of light-activated drugs to kill
the cancer cells)
- Hyperthermia (use of heat to damage and kill the cancer
cells)
- Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) (for improved cancer
diagnosis, development of cancer drugs, and precision medicine)
- CRISPR (a gene-editing tool to delete, add, or edit
specific parts of DNA inside cancer cells)
- Telehealth (to provide cancer care and treatment to
patients virtually)
- Cryo-EM (for generation of high-resolution images of how
cancer molecules behave)
- Infinitum Assay (to provide important details on how
genetic variants are related to cancer)
- Robotic surgery (use of robotic arms to perform minimally
invasive and precise surgeries to remove the cancer cells)
VII. Government Initiatives and Policies
The Indian government launched a National Cancer Control
Programme in the year 1975 and revised its strategies in the year 1984-85
stressing the importance of primary prevention and early cancer
detection.
India has 17 regional cancer research centers currently.
Additionally, the government is working towards providing oncology wings in all
the medical colleges of India.
The District Cancer Control Programme was launched in
1990-91 with the aim that each state and union territory prepare projects
involving health education, early diagnosis, and pain-relief methods associated
with cancer.
Other initiatives taken by the government for cancer
prevention include the Comprehensive Anti-tobacco Programme and the National
Cancer Registry Programme launched in 1982 by the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) to provide accurate information on the prevalence of cancer and
its incidence.
VIII. The Importance of Regular Check-ups
Doctors recommend undergoing regular health check-ups that
include cancer screening tests to not only assess the general health and
well-being of the patient but also detect cancer at an early stage.
The early detection of cancer through regular health checks
helps in treating the condition before it becomes life-threatening.
IX. Conclusion
Cancer awareness is the key to avoiding risk factors that
may lead to cancer and also encourages one to lead a healthy lifestyle. The
Indian government is taking all the necessary initiatives to increase the
awareness of cancer among the general population of the country.
Regular health check-ups and cancer screening tests are vital in the early detection and treatment of cancer.
