2011 is important because the WHO and UICC (International Union for Cancer Control) are jointly organizing World Summit on NCD in September to address this ever increasing problem.

Current Scenario on Cancer in India

-         There are 25 lakh cancer patients in the country at a given point of time.

-         Cancer is the 2nd largest killer accounting for 6 lakh deaths every year.

-         10 lakh new cases are detected annually and by 2015 this number will cross 15 lakh.

-         In India about 70% cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage.

-         Relatively younger population is affected.

-         Tobacco related cancers are important (40% in men & 25% in women).

-         Cervix is the leading cancer in women across the country while breast has taken over cervix in urban population.

Above mentioned figures on cancer are based on Indian Cancer Registry Programme (ICRP) located in urban areas and covers only 03% of Indian population. However actual statistics may be different. 

Against all these odds the ray of hope is that nature has never been cruel to its creations.

Major risk factors for cancer are Tobacco, faulty diet, inadequate physical activity, Alcohol consumption, HIV, Hepatitis B, Obesity and excessive exposure to sunlight which are under our control and can be modified. According to ICMR reports based on Indian Cancer Registry Programme the most common cancers in India are; Oral, Cervical, breast, Lung and GI. The Silver lining about these cancers is that they are PREVENTABLE if we change our life style and secondly they can be CURED if detected early.

Improved strategies on awareness & education on cancer related risk factor for prevention, early detection and enhanced Infra structure for treatment, are the fundamentals to achieve the goal to control cancer in India. According to recent WHO survey report 95% population world over is at risk due to lack of meaningful anti tobacco law. 5 million people die due to tobacco related disease currently and this figure may go up to 8 million by 2030 if effective Tobacco control measure is not taken. The survey also reveals that 600,000 people die due to passive smoking globally.

India being the second largest Tobacco user in the World, urgently needs a strong Tobacco control programme to educate masses on hazardous effects of tobacco use. Also Support should be given to tobacco users in their quest to quite smoking or tobacco consumption.

Effective sexual health education to prevent sexually transmitted disease and cancer like cervical and oral should be easily accessible to all. Education to generate awareness on life style related breast cancer, advocating the value of screening mammography, Breast self examination (BSE) and Clinical breast examination to diagnose early should be spread effectively. According to task force for current XIth Five year Plan, 2/3rd of the total cancer patients in India need Radiotherapy while only 1/3rd of these actually receive radiotherapy due to major short fall in number of therapy units and urban centric distribution of existing centers.

WHO has warned that India is the next hub for cancer, therefore we should not leave any stone unturned to over come this glaring problem.

We citizens of our beloved country should rise from our slumber and free our country from the claws of the crab named CANCER.

(Based on an interview with Prof. Shahid Ali Siddiqui, Chairman, Department of Radio Therapy, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University)