6000 cancer cases detected last year in west Rajasthan, double in decade
Maximum patients are suffering from mouth and throat cancer, followed by lung cancer; female patients are suffering from breast and uterus cancer
than 6000 new cancer patients were detected last year in western Rajasthan, where the cases have doubled in the last one decade, experts said.
Hospitals affiliated to SN Medical College in Jodhpur admit a maximum number of cancer patients.
At least 6063 cancer patients were registered last year in Mathuradas Mathur Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and two satellite hospitals. The number stood at 6245 in 2015. Hospitals registered 2908 cancer patients in 2007.
“Maximum patients are suffering from mouth and throat cancer, followed by lung cancer; female patients are suffering from breast and uterus cancer,” said Dr Pradeep Gour, head of the radiotherapy department at SN Medical College.
The rise in mouth and throat cancer cases is because of excessive tobacco consumption, he said.
“Alcohol consumption is the main reason for liver cancer. The rise in the number of patients is also related to rising awareness on cancer among people,” Gaur said.
Advancement in medical technology has led to detection of cancer cases that were earlier treated as normal wounds. Free treatment and drug facilities have also encouraged people from rural areas to come to hospitals.
Experts said sun rays, radiation effects, HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, effects of chemical substances and transformation in genes have added to the rise in cancer patients. Some experts on condition of anonymity said the nuclear test in Pokhran in Jaislamer district in 1998 also led to cancer cases in desert areas of western Rajasthan. Villagers around Pokhran had complained to the Rajasthan Human Rights Commission about cancer threat. The commission then ordered the Jaisalmer district collector to conduct a probe.
The collector wrote to the SN Medical College principal, but no probe on the side effects of the nuclear test has been initiated so far.
“We cannot comment on the link between cancer cases and side effects of the nuclear test,” said Gaur.
“A research project, titled ‘A community- based study of population of the nuclar testing region for prevalence of cancer’, was sent to the director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research for approval. The study can be done only after the approval,” he added.