Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

‘Early detection key to treating cancer’

VIJAYAWADA: Hospitals in the private sector should give subsidy to the poor holding white ration cards in treatment of cancer, said A.V. Krishnam Raju, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. N.T.R University of Health Sciences, on Thursday. He was addressing paramedics and others at an awareness programme organised by The Hindu, in association with Manipal Super Speciality Hospital, on the occasion of World Cancer Day.

The Vice-Chancellor said mortality and morbidity of cancer could be reduced with early detection of the disease. While cancer triggered by viral diseases could be prevented by immunisation even now, it will not be long before other forms of cancer were prevented by genomic therapy.

Developed countries were able to prevent cancer in the early stages with early detection. But achieving the same in India was very difficult, taking into consideration the huge population and the poor coordination of different agencies involved in the screening of the disease.

Pointing out that government hospitals were able to facilitate early detection of cancer only to some extent, he urged private and corporate hospitals to conduct screening programmes in rural areas. Government agencies would do well to involve NGOs too.

Stating that medical scientists had been able to map the genes that were prone to causing cancer, he cited the example of ‘p53 gene’ that acted as a tumour suppressant. The damage of the p53 gene leads to proliferation of cancer. “In the future, such kinds of cancer can be treated using genomic therapy through which damaged genes could be repaired,” Dr. Krishnam Raju revealed.

Manipal Super Speciality Hospital consulting oncologist G. Krishna Reddy, while referring to this year’s theme of the World Cancer Day that “cancer can be prevented too,” said that the disease could be prevented by making lifestyle changes. Smoking was one of the biggest causes of cancer. Even those who were exposed to secondary smoking ran the risk of developing cancer.

He said obesity was another condition that increased the risk of cancer. A healthy diet with fibre-rich fruits and maintaining ideal body weight reduced the risk. There were vaccines that help reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer, he said.

The Hindu Regional General Manager K. Chandrasekaran spoke of the need to promote awareness on the disease in the masses. P. Raj Kumar, Regional Manager, Business Development, Manipal Hospital, explained the various initiatives of the hospital. Oncologist Srikant was on the dais.

Earlier in the day, an awareness walk was flagged off by Dr. Krishnam Raju at Benz Circle. A large number of employees of Manipal Hospital and The Hindu participated in the walk that passed through Pinnamaneni Polyclinic road, Mother Teresa statue junction, Siddhartha Academy, Madhu Chowk, Pushpa Hotel Centre, Red Circle, IGMC Stadium and Bandar Road before culminating at Hotel Fortune Murali Park.

The placards with slogans aimed at creating awareness about cancer held by the participants attracted the passersby.

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