60% patients at state’s top cancer centre are women

Women in 3040 age group worsthit; less breastfeeding, obesity, stress and smoking to be blamed

women are getting affected by cancer than their male counterparts, if the number of patients reporting at the radiology department of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, is of any indication.

Of the total patients, over 60% are women, it has been found. The most common type among them is breast cancer followed by that of cervix, ovary and oesophagus. Among men, oesophagus is the most common cancer followed by prostate, head and neck cancers.

200-250 PATIENTS VISIT CENTRE DAILY

“Ours is the most sought after and the biggest cancer centre in Punjab. Everyday, we get 200 to 250 patients of whom an average 16 are confirmed as having affected by cancer. Of these, 12 happen to be females,” said Dr Raja Paramjeet Singh, head of the radiology department.

In 2016, as many as 1,633 new cases of female cancer patients were reported against 1,119 male patients. In 2015, as many as 1,679 new cases of female patients were reported against 1,124 cases of male patients. In 2014, as many as 1,600 new cases of female cancer patients were reported at the hospital as compared to 1,045 new cases of male patients.

Nikhil Sharma nikhil.sharma@hindustantimes.com

1,056 NEW CANCER PATIENTS THIS YEAR

Out of a total of 1,056 new cancer patients this year, 613 are female.

Dr Raja said, “We get a large number of breast cancer cases from across the state. Unfortunately, patients visit in the last stages of the disease and therefore the cure becomes more difficult. A woman who feels lump in the breast, she should immediately visit hospital so that it can be cured in the initial stage. At third or fourth stage, we can only prolong the patient’s survival.”

Baljit Kaur, a cervix cancer patient said, “I had lost all the hope of surviving. Doctors here gave me the best possible treatment and I am absolutely fine. I got relief under the chief minister cancer relief fund scheme.”

About more cancer cases among women, Dr Raja said less breastfeeding, obesity, stress, smoking and heredity are to be blamed. “We have all machines to cure a cancer patient available with us. They don’t have to spend lakhs for treatment as they can avail it under government schemes here,” he said.

The worst hit are women in the age group of 30-40, he said.