‘Late cancer diagnosis still a big problem ’
ICON CONFERENCE Experts say delay in detecting the disease means escalated cost and longer duration of treatment for patients
LUCKNOW: Gall bladder and nasopharyngeal cancers are the two types of the deadly disease that might trouble Indians in future, as little research has been done on them.
“Gall bladder cancer is found among Indians along Gangetic plains and in Chilea while nasopharyngeal cancer is particular in north east and south east Asia and not in the west. There is potential for research in these two and a few other types of cancer,” said Dr Sudeep Gupta of Tata Memorial hospital, Mumbai.
Dr Gupta was in Lucknow for a panel discussion at the 36th Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON) conference on Saturday. He said there was awareness about cancer now and with early detection, the size of tomour was generally getting reduced . “At our hospital, the average size of tumour in 1991 was 5 cms and today it is 2.7 cms, suggesting people are coming for treatment early but not all of them do so,” he said, adding: “Head and neck cancer cases are coming up in a large number.”
Stating that breast cancer was yet another big issue, Dr Gupta said that the incidence in UK was 80 per 100,000 and the cancer registry done in Barshi in Maharastra revealed the rate was 8 to 10 cases per 100,000. “This means urban lifestyle is more responsible for breast cancer cases,” he pointed out. Dr Gaurav Gupta, organising secretary of the 36th ICON conference and faculty with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences spoke on the objective of the conference and immunotherapy for cancer patients. He said that late diagnosis was still a big problem among patients. “About 80% patients come at a late stage of the disease,” he said.
Experts in the conference said that the cost of treatment also went up considerably if the patient got late diagnosis and treatment. Sample this: A first stage breast cancer with a one centimetre lump in the breast will be treated with total removal and the cost can be up to ₹5,000 in government sector and ₹35,000 in private sector.
If it is delayed by three months, treatment cost goes up to ₹ 2 lakh and duration of treatment from one week to three or four months.
“I got cases of young girls from Pune, Kolkata and even Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh who were treated and they grew up and got married. They have children too. Early detection and adequate treatment can help in getting better treatment results,” said Dr Purvish Parikh from Asian Cancer Institute, Mumbai.
At our hosp, average size of tumour in 1991 was 5 cms and today it is 2.7 cms, suggesting people are coming for treatment early but not all of them do so. Head and neck cancer cases are coming up in a large number DR SUDEEP GUPTA , from Tata Memorial hospital, Mumbai