CANCER AWARENESS DAY(4TH FEB).MEDICAL FRATERNITY COMMITMENT NECESSARY FOR A CANCER FREE WORLD –DR. CHOPRA
In a country like India which is a home to approximately 313 million illiterates (59% of them are women) the only tool to awaken people regarding the deadly killers like CANCER is to create awareness .Only this can illuminate and dissipate darkness. Above all ‘Education emancipates’.
Tracing the etymology of the word ‘CANCER’ , it is worth mentioning that it originated from Latin ‘crab or creeping ulcer’. Although known for centuries the interest in the disease has increased considerably during the past century. It is one of the hundreds of non-communicable diseases which attack us, but has emerged as a grave public health hazard in terms of morbidity, mortality and above all human predicament and misery.
The term ‘Cancer’ denotes not one but a variety heterogeneous disorders which can occur in any part of our body with varied clinical manifestations. In it the cells and tissues exhibit out-of-control abnormal proliferation. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US. According to one study about one third of all people in the US will develop cancer during their lifetime.
In India the scene is like this…..one in 68 males will get Lung cancer, one in 29 females breast cancer and one in nine Indians will develop any other cancer during his lifetime.
There were approximately 1.16 million new cases in 2018.
This year’s theme is….’I AM AND I WILL’. On this day the whole medical fraternity and all intelligentsia should reinforce their commitment to reduce the global impact of cancer.
Last month the pioneer of cancer care DR. V.SHANTA ( a renowned Oncologist) of Chennai left for her heavenly abode.The void left after her death cannot be easily filled.
IT IS HIGH TIME THAT WE STRIVE HARD TO CREATE A CANCER FREE WORLD.
FOR THIS WE WILL HAVE TO GIRD OUR LOINS AND TAKE THE THINGS ON WAR-FOOTING AS FAR AS ITS PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION,DIAGNOSIS,TREATMENT,FOLLOW UP (INCLUDING REHABILITATION) IS CONCERNED.
