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`Campaign to check smoking habit imperative'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 18. With 90 per cent of lung cancer caused by tobacco smoking, it is imperative to launch awareness campaigns to prevent initiation and for cessation of the habit, V.K. Vijayan, regent, American College of Chest Physicians — India, has said.

As patients came in only during the later stages of the disease, diagnosis was delayed, and the chances of cure reduced, Prof. Vijayan said yesterday. Cigarette and beedi smoking was a problem in India, widely prevalent in cities and villages.

Therefore, in addition to paying attention to curative treatment, chest physicians should focus on spreading awareness of the harmful effects of smoking. A Chennai-based study, published in the Lancet last year, indicated a close association between tuberculosis and tobacco smoking.

Only five per cent of those with lung cancer survived even in developing countries, said A.S. Natarajan of Madras Medical College. Though advanced diagnostic facilities could be used along with multimodal therapy, the prognosis for lung cancer was dismal. Prof. Natarajan stressed strengthening of the awareness component.

The college dean, James Pandian, said malignancy of the lung was a condition more prevalent in this part of the country. Doctors in the government hospital were working to ensure that there was no backlog of cases in the Cardio-thoracic department.

Rajan Santhosham, governor, American College of Chest Physicians — South India Chapter, participated in the deliberations.

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