Expressing concern over the ever-increasing number of women cancer patients in Kerala, Governor P. Sathasivam on Friday asked the State to take a comprehensive look at the issue, beginning with the creation of a credible online cancer registry and publishing details of all available treatment facilities.
Opening MVR CANCON-18, a three-day meet on ‘Consensus and controversies in oncology’ at MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute (MVRCCRI) at Choloor here, the Governor said it was high time the State made available basic treatment facilities and surgical oncologists at all district hospitals. “Since screening and early detection are important in reducing death rate, we need to find more effective ways of treatment,” he said.
Highlighting the magnitude of the situation, Mr. Sathasivam said India had over 2.5 million people with cancer and sadly, women were the worst-hit thanks to increasing prevalence of cervical and breast cancers. “Around 5,00,000 people die of cancer every year in our country, not to mention detection of more than 7,00,000 newer cases. One woman dies of cancer every 10 minutes, if we can trust available statistics,” the Governor observed.
Mr. Sathasivam said priority should be given to educating women on the need for reporting breast tumours in the early stages and making them undergo free mammography. “If they are reluctant, we should reach out to them. Mobile cancer screening units and satellite outpatient department centres in other cities planned by MVR Cancer Centre are instances of such outreach programmes,” he added.
The Governor also pointed out that the fear among patients of the treatment protocol remained a hurdle in cancer management. “It is this fear that drives many to unqualified healers who promise them of remedies without side effects but end up in killing them,” he said.
On the need for an effective and credible counselling system at every hospital, Mr. Sathasivam said the scope of ongoing researches should be extended to such matters too. The introduction of modern technology and collaboration with research activities in India and abroad will definitely help in achieving the targets, he added.
C.N. Vijayakrishnan, chairman, MVRCCI; medical director Dr. Narayanankutty Warrier, and programme director Jame Abraham were present. Organisers said the three-day conference would discuss the latest challenges and solutions in cancer care. Eminent clinicians and scientists from across the world are attending the meet.
