Cancer can be prevented if we follow proactive measues of prevention and try early detection and prompt and energetic treatment.

In the year 2000 there were 10 million cancer victims in the world and it is expected to rise by 50% to 15 millions by 2020. In India 800,000 new cases of cancers are registered every year; 25,00,000 patients with cancer are under treatment at any time and about 550,000 of them die. It is sad that in India 70 % of cancers seen are in an advanced stage and chances of cure are almost nil.

One third of all Cancers are preventable and preventive measures form the most reliable and cost effective long term strategy in cancer control.

Use of Tobacco is the single largest cause of preventable cancer accounting for 80 to 90% of cancer lungs and 30% of cancer deaths from all causes.

Dietary factors and obesity also have a strong correlation with many types of cancers.

Various types of infections account for about 22% cancer deaths in developing countries and 6% in industrialized countries.

Excessive exposure to ionizing radiations and genetic predisposition account for the other cancers.

Apart from 'primary prevention' by various proactive measures, early diagnosis and energetic treatment are the two most important steps in “secondary prevention’.

Early Indications of cancer.
• Loss of weight and appetite especially in those over 50 years.
• Unexplained and persistent pallor of weakness in the old.
• Any lump anywhere in the body, even if it is absolutely painless.
• Any sore or ulcer anywhere, if it does not heal in 3-4 week's time.
• Any birthmark or mole if it suddenly enlarges, gives pain, itching or breaks down.
• Unexplained and persistent bleeding or discharge from anywhere.
• Persistent cough or hoarseness of voice.
• Difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
• Change in bowel habit or urination.

In addition cancer can mimic many other diseases with various general symptoms like fever, jaundice, cough, weakness etc and not responding even after prolonged or repeated courses of treatment.

What to do if you notice any one of these early suspicious symptoms?
Being frightened that it may be the dreaded cancer and avoiding confirmation and hoping that it is not cancer, avoiding going to a Doctor is the worst decision one can do. Being well informed that even if it is cancer , it can be cured in its early stages, you should immediately consult an expert – your own family Doctor, a Consultant Surgeon or a Consultant in Internal Medicine or a Cancer Specialist or Oncologist in that order of preference. The doctor is in a far better position to guide you as to what you should do. After making a detailed evaluation/examination one of the following would happen:

# He may tell and reassure you that there is no fear of any cancer and explain to you what exactly it is. It may be a simple bulge due to an innocent/benign condition called ‘sebaceous cyst” or a lipoma (mass of fat) or some similar condition.

# He also has a suspicion that it may be early cancer and order some special tests like blood tests, X rays or scans.

# Or he may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation and tests.

# If the suspicion of cancer persists, the final test to make sure what it is, would be some kind of a “Biopsy”. This maybe a simple “Fine Needle Aspiraion Cytology”(FNAC), consisting of simple inserting a fine needle and using strong suction force withdraw a tiny droplet of fluid for evaluation by a specially trained Pathologist. Or it may be some other type of biopsy wherein a small bit of the affected/suspected swelling/part is cut, usually under local injection and with this a pathologists can diagnose with more certainty than FNAC.

# In rare instances if it is still not clear what it is, some more special tests may be performed or the whole suspected swelling/part maybe removed by an operation for making the diagnosis. This is also a form of biopsy called “excision biopsy”.

At this stage the possibilities are either that it is conclusively established that it is not cancer or if it is cancer suitable treatment measures are started immediately. This maybe a combination of one more of Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy and some other method. And if diagnosis has been made early and suitable treatment started in its early stages, in most instances Cancer Can be Cured.

Be well informed. It is entirely in your hands if you want to be cancer free and healthy.

Best wishes,