It’s almost reaching there so “THE CAPITAL POST” brings you the shocking stance of India; we are under its claw so we must focus on the fight and not the fright
Angelina Jolie, one of the highest paid actresses of Hollywood once discovered that due to a mutation in her genes she was at an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. In 2013, she underwent a double mastectomy and got her breasts surgically removed. The actress has not hesitated from the public in openly sharing her story. This inspired many others to fight cancer without fear.
“I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”
In 2015, to prevent a possible cancer alarm she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, in 2012, there were an approx 14.1 million cancer cases around the world. Of those cases, the United States had the sixth highest number of new diagnoses, with 318 cases per 100,000 people. India stands 3rd with massive cancer counts among women after China and US, accelerating with 4.5-5% growth. By 2021, around 7 crore Indians will have one or the other type of cancer. Cancer death rates in India are 4-6 times higher than US.
What is actually CANCER?
Cancer is the word that defines the collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into nearby tissues. It can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of hundreds and thousands of cells. Normally, human body needs cells they grow and divide to form new cells. When cells die by growing old or damaging then new cells take their place.
When cancer develops in a body then this orderly process breaks down. As cells become extremely abnormal, old or damaged cells, they survive when they should die, and new cells form when they are not needed. These extra cells can split without stopping and may form growths called tumors.
Cancerous tumors are malignant, which means they can spread or invade surrounding tissues. As these tumors grow, some cancer cells can cut off and travel to distant places in the body through the blood or the lymph system and become new tumors distant from the original tumor.
Benign tumors do not spread or invade the nearby tissues. They can sometimes be quite large and they usually don’t grow back when they are removed, whereas malignant tumors sometimes do. Unlike most benign tumors in the other parts of the body, Benign brain tumors can be life threatening.
You all must be wondering that why so many people these days are being diagnosed with cancer? Some reasons-
RECAPITULATION
1. Older people get cancer most often and we’re getting older
Among all the cancer diagnosed population, 77% of the people are over the age of 55, which is expected to be doubled by 2060. One reason for it is that as we grow old the cells in our body become weak and starts damaging.
2. Obesity opens the door to several types of cancer
Obesity will soon overtake tobacco as the No. 1 risk factor for cancer. It is related with increased risk of the following cancer types: breast (after menopause), colon and rectal, esophageal, endometrial, pancreatic, kidney, thyroid and gallbladder.
3. Certain cancer types are on the rise
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread sexually transmitted disease, and consists of 40 different variation,
4. Tobacco use can cause varying cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and many other organs.
5. Without protection, spending a lot of time in the sun can cause skin cancer.
6. Radiation can cause cancer. People who are exposed to nuclear radiations are more prone to cancer. Sometimes, treatment of radiation for one type of cancer can cause another cancer to grow many years later.
7. Certain chemicals have been associated to cancer, too.
8. Genes that run in families
About 5% to 10% of all cancers are associated to genes that are inherited from parents.
Glance at INDIAN Stance
The global death number because of cancer have outreached 8.8million, unfortunately out of which India has managed to stand on a position of largest contributor in the number of cancer deaths falling at 2.2 million per year, as of 2012. According to doctors, this is primarily because 70 percent of cancer patients consult a doctor at the extreme stage.
The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR University), which is a healthcare research institute, declared that due to drastic changes in its lifestyle, the Indian population is among the most helpless to dreaded diseases such as cancer. It is estimated that as by the year 2021, over 7 crore (70 million) Indians are likely to suffer from one or the other type of cancer.
IIHMR noted that the increase in cancer patients will pose a major threat as the death rate among cancer patients in India is four to six times higher as compare to that in the US. The minimum cost of treatment lingers around Rs 3-4 lakh, which is higher than the annual income of over 80-85 per cent households.
% patients undergoing treatment
Treatment modality India International Standards
Radiation Therapy 15-20% 40-50%
Surgery 30-35% 60-65%
Chemotherapy 30-35% 65-70%
Source: EY, Call For Action, July 2015
Only 30% of the cancer centers have advanced imaging technologies such as PET-CT. PET-CT scanners are essential for exact diagnosis, staging and response monitoring of cancer and are therefore analytic to providing complete cancer care.
Only 40 out of 640 districts have Linac installations.
Only 200-250 complete cancer care centers are present, 40% of which are present in eight metropolitan cities and fewer than 15% are government operated.
Inclusively there is a significant shortage of oncologists in India. India has only one oncologist per 1,600 new cancer patients in India, as against one per 100 and 400 new cancer patients in the US and UK respectively.
Reports by National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research
-July 17, 2018
Actuality of Fatality
In India, one woman dies of cervical cancer in every 8 minutes.
In every 2 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one woman dies of it.
As many as 2,500 people die every day due to tobacco-related diseases.
Smoking accounts for 1 in 5 deaths among men and 1 in 20 deaths among women, reporting for an approx 9, 30,000 deaths in 2010.
Cancer Statistics in India
• Around 2.5 million people are estimated to be living with the disease.
• Every year, new cancer patients registered: Over 7 lakh
• Cancer-related deaths: 5, 56,400
Deaths in the age group between 30-69 years
Total: 3,95,400 (71% of all cancer related deaths)
Men: 2,00,100
Women: 1,95,300
Cancers of oral cavity and lungs in males and cervix and breast in females account for over 50% of all cancer deaths in India.
The top five cancers in men and women account for 47.2% of all cancers;
Men Women
1 LIP,ORAL CAVITY BREAST
2 LUNG CERVIX
3 STOMACH COLORECTUM
4 COLORECTUM OVARY
5 PHARYNX LIP,ORAL CAVITY
Faces in Claws of Cancer
Cancer, a monster that can be slayed with the sword of desire. There are few whose zeal to live battles with this monster to come out victorious but there are few unfortunate souls who are erased forever from the canvas of the living. There are few who are presently fighting to conquer over cancer.
SONALI BINDRE
When Sonali Bindre shared the news of her being suffering from a high grade cancer that has metastases, through an instagram post, her fans were shock. She also posted a new photo in which she has a short hair, something Sonali has never sported before.
DEATHS
RAJESH KHANNA
Rajesh Khanna was diagnosed with cancer in the year 2011. He fought for one year and passed away in the year 2012, he was under chemo therapy for last one year. He was 69 years old when he died.
NARGIS DUTT
Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1980, for the treatment she went to New York and after returning back she was admitted to hospital again as her health was deteriorating. She went to coma and next day she passed away.
AADESH SHRIVASTAVA
Aadesh Shrivastava was a music composer and singer of today’s bollywood generation; he passed due to cancer at a very early age of 51. He could not win over the disease and fought the hardships for 40 days but unfortunately could not get cured.
VINOD KHANNA
Vinod Khanna was diagnosed with the advanced bladder cancer and left us at the age of 70 years. He was admitted to the hospital few days before his death
SURVIVORS
YUVRAJ SINGH
The star cricketer is among the leading name that is remembered among the cancer survivors list. He fell sick while playing the World Cup in the year 2011. Soon after the tournament he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer at stage 1. While the player was battling with cancer he was awarded as Man of the Tournament. He went to United States for his treatment and returned after a year totally cured.
MONISHA KOIRALA
Monisha was 42 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She completely left bollywood when she was suffering from ovarian cancer. In 2012 her disease was revealed. In 2015, after many surgeries and chemo therapies she was declared cancer free.
LISA RAY
Lisa Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells) in 2009. In this type, cancer hits the blood cells in the bone marrow. It is a rare cancer. She underwent stem cell transplant treatment and was declared cancer free in 2010. But she announced through social media that she is free from cancer but not fully cured as the disease is treatable but not curable.
MUMTAZ
Mumtaz was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54. She underwent many surgeries for a long time. She successfully battled the cancer and presently at the age of 65 she is living a cancer free life.
ANURAG BASU
Anurag Basu is one of the best directors bollywood have. In the year 2004 he was diagnosed with cancer, doctors told him that he might live merely for 3 months with this type of blood cancer. Eventually Anurag Basu fought for 3 long years to defeat the disease and now it’s been 14 years that he is cancer-free.
BARBARA MORI
Barbara Mori was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, she was seen in the film Kites with Hrithik Roshan in the same year. Fortunately, it was very early stage of cancer and curable. She underwent treatment for short span of time and defeated the disease.
Cancer Village of India
As we already mentioned above that certain chemicals and pesticides are one of the severe reasons to give birth to cancer, Malwa region of Punjab got affected with this reason only.
The number of cancer patients has sharply increased during the past couple of years in the Malwa belt and the common people give credits to excessive use of pesticides that has contaminated the underground water that they consume. The cotton belt is now known as the cancer belt of Punjab. The traces of DDT and Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) were also found in the canal-based drinking water supply, when the Pollution Control Board conducted test of water samples.
Residents of the village also say that people are unwilling to accept the matrimonial proposals of boys and girls who belong to Malwa. Condition is so worst that Insecticides and pesticides like aldrin, heptachlor and endosulfan were detected from blood samples of the cancer patients.
Unfortunately the condition has worsened to such an extent that the government were forced to start Abohar-Bikaner passenger train consists of the districts of Bathinda, Mukatsar, Mansa, Ferozepore, Moga, Barnala, Faridkot and Sangrur as it carries cancer patients to Bikaner for treatment of cancer. Over the years, this train has come to be known as the “cancer train” (marizon ki train).
The Burden of Cancer Worldwide
Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. There were 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide, in 2012.
In 2012, 57% of new cancer cases occurred in less developed regions of the world that involve Central America and parts of Africa and Asia; 65% of cancer deaths also occurred in these regions.
It is expected that 23.6 million new cancer cases will rise by 2030 per year.
Source: DANA FABER CANCER INSTITUTE-2015
National Cancer Institute gives the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths (2016)
Cancer Type Estimated New Cases Estimated Deaths
Bladder 76,960 16,390
Breast (Female — Male) 246,660 — 2,600 40,450 — 440
Colon and Rectal (Combined) 134,490 49,190
Endometrial 60,050 10,470
Kidney (Renal Cell and Renal Pelvis) Cancer 62,700 14,240
Leukemia (All Types) 60,140 24,400
Lung (Including Bronchus) 224,390 158,080
Melanoma 76,380 10,130
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 72,580 20,150
Pancreatic 53,070 41,780
Prostate 180,890 26,120
Thyroid 64,300 1,980
What specialists have to say:
“Cancer is one of the top causes of death due to lifestyle, food habits, stressed life and much more. One should not ignore things like lump even if they are not malignant. If cancer is detected in the early stages there is a very high chance of survival. One should be aware of any unusual changes they notice about their bodies.” – Adwait Gore, Oncologist at Zen Hospital, Mumbai
“In the hinterland diagnosis is always late and if diagnosis is late then cancer related surgeries are done late. Cancers of the prostate, which is the second most common in India, do not lead to pain, the basic symptom of cancer, leading to late diagnosis.” -SP Yadav, a urology surgeon and Managing Director of Puspanjali Hospital, Gurgaon
“Those who approach in the first stage of cancer most often have 85 per cent chances of cure; in stage 2, there is 60 per cent chance of cure, stage 3 falls to 30 per cent and those who start treatment at stage 4 will not survive for more than 5 years. The increased number of patients who approach the doctor only after they reach advanced stages is based on the malignancy ” -Ramakant Deshpande, Onco Surgeon and Vice Chairman of Asian Cancer Institute.
“Regarding Breast Cancer, all females who are above 40 years of age should undergo mammography test annually. As 60-70 per cent of cancers detected are sporadic it is always better to have periodic health checkups done.” -Ajay Kolse, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Mumbai’s Holy Spirit Hospital.
But what about cancer’s closure?
With every following sun, the tree of life is only getting lighter. Only the fallens can scrutinize the journey of overcoming this beast. The situation is worsening as the day is passing, but screaming voices go unheard. Will these figures bring development to the nation? Or this is the path India has opted to reach towards the goal of becoming the super power? Its high time government needs to realize that situation needs to be taken care of. Numbers are increasing rapidly and the actions are must. The medical facilities in the country are so substandard that it helps none. Poverty stricken people still need help as they are facing problems in affording the medical facilities; the base price of the treatment is way to high for them to afford. Government needs to understand that nation stands only with its citizens and before dreaming and implementing other infrastructure, they need to improve the infrastructure of medical facilities, or else India will stand still as a developing country.
“Scars are tattoos with better stories.”