The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dedicated cancer helpline launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dedicated cancer helpline launched

Special Correspondent

Year-long campaign to dispel myths about disease begins

THE MESSAGE: Health Minister N. Thalavai Sundaram having a word with Sheelarani Chunkath, Secretary of Health (left), at an awareness programme on breast cancer in Chennai on Thursday. P. Jayalakshmi, Director of Medical Education (right), looks on. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: Health Minister Thalavai Sundaram on Thursday punched the numbers 044-55167688 on his cellphone at the Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH) on Thursday to make the first call to the State's first 24-hour dedicated cancer helpline.

The Surgical Oncology Department of the GRH has launched the helpline and a year-long awareness campaign to dispel myths about cancer and highlight the benefits of early detection and treatment. People with access to the Internet can address their queries to cancerhelp@yahoogroups.com. A panel of oncology experts will answer the queries.

Mr. Sundaram said misconceptions about the disease abound and it was the duty of the doctors to ensure that the right message got through. The Government had installed cobalt therapy units, used to treat cancer, in 10 hospitals. The oncology units were focussing on early detection, especially breast cancer among women.

Health Secretary Sheela Rani Chunkath said that while certain causative factors could not be avoided, lifestyle changes could definitely prevent the onset of cancer. Exercise and eating healthy food (organically grown fruits and vegetables) could help avoid the disease.

Around 8,000 Village Health Nurses had been trained to identify the symptoms of breast cancer, Ms. Chunkath said. Research was on in a Chennai institute to identify the gene mutation that caused cancer and a fruitful partnership between the institution and the GRH could be drawn up to enhance the quality of research.

Making an observation on the large number of cases of attempted suicide by consuming acid, she said it was important to stem this trend. She suggested that counselling be provided to students and youth about the permanent damage caused by consuming acid. A plan would be drawn up for this soon, Ms. Chunkath added.

Director of Medical Education P. Vijayalakshmi complimented the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology of GRH for providing support and rehabilitation to the victims of acid consumption. She urged the hospital authorities to provide a detailed proposal for the upgradation of the oncology department and allied specialities.

A handbook on breast self-examination was released by Kilpauk Medical College dean G. Elangovan. GRH superintendent R. Thirunarayanan and head, Surgical Oncology department, R. Rajaraman elaborated on the objectives and components of the awareness drive.

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