PATNA: Lack of awareness about cancer and its symptoms and delay in screening are among the major reasons for death due to cancer across the country. As per the state government’s data, every year in Bihar nearly 1.40 lakh cancer cases are registered, out of which two-third are those who have entered the advanced stage. Among the cancer cases in Bihar, oral, breast and cervical cancers are the most common.
Mahavir Cancer Institute medical superintendent Dr LB Singh said not only people, but even healthcare workers in rural areas are not aware of the symptoms of cancer. “In case of ulcer or boil which is not getting treated, rural practitioners give antibiotics instead of sending them for screening. At our institute, almost 99% of the cases are those which have reached the advanced stage,” said Dr Singh.
He further said obstructive jaundice also leads to gallbladder cancer and many people keep delaying, thinking jaundice will get cured with time.
Giving the break-up of the cases at the hospital, Dr Singh said every day nearly 150 new cancer patients come for a check-up, excluding over 600 old cases. “Over 50% of patients come with oral cancer and nearly 20% of cases are gallbladder cancer. In males, prostate cancer is common and in females breast and cervical cancer. If treated at the right stage, lives can be saved,” he said, adding, the use of tobacco and its products were the main causes of oral cancer in Bihar.
The health department also stated that lack of awareness among common people about cancer, deficiency of cancer screening facility at community level, large scale use of tobacco and its products and delay in detection leads to delay in the treatment process. “At the national level, oral, breast and cervical cancer are the common ones and comprise a total of 34% of the cases. There are high chances of survival in such cases, but only if they are screened on time and treatment starts,” read a statement by the health department.
It further stated that if detected in the early stage then 60% of oral, 73% of cervical and 76% of breast cancer patients can survive.
Doctors at AIIMS-Patna also emphasized the need for awareness regarding cancer among common people and started a campaign ‘I am and I will’. Hospital’s director Dr PK Singh said, “Awareness is the biggest way to protect from cancer.”
Govt launches cancer screening initiative: Union minister Raj Kumar Singh and state health minister Mangal Pandey on Thursday launched a cancer screening-cum-awareness programme on the occasion of the World Cancer Day. This will be done initially in 14 districts in collaboration with Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Muzaffarpur. Singh, who was present through video conference congratulated the health minister and department officials for this initiative.
Fourteen districts where these facilities will be provided are Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Madhubani, Nalanda, Patna, Samastipur, Siwan, Supaul, Vaishali and Muzaffarpur.
“Detection of cancer and its timely treatment will help in reducing fatalities. This programme will prove to be a milestone in curbing cancer cases,” said Pandey. Health department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit said with the help of Rural Electrification Corporation and Tata Memorial Hospital, they will be able to detect cancer patients and get them registered for treatment. “With the help of a population-based cancer registry, we will be able to get important data,” Amrit added.
For the initial stage, which will continue for three years, the health department has targeted to screen 1.50 to 1.80 lakh people in a year. There will be four screening camps in each district in a week and awareness programmes will be conducted in education institutes too, highlighting the negative impact of tobacco and other products.