A protocol for treatment of cancer, incorporating common guidelines for oncologists in the country, has been formulated at a three-day international conference on cancer, CanCER CI-2003, held in Hyderabad from August 22 to 24. The guidelines would be forwarded to the Union Government for standardization of the protocol for treatment of cancer throughout the country.
Addressing newsmen at the conclusion of the conference on Sunday, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Organising Secretary of the conference, said the guidelines would also be sent to practicing oncologists and physicians in the form of a CD and pamphlets.
The guidelines discussed and finalised at the conference were aimed at removing the confusion over cancer treatment in the country. At present the treatment policy on cancer had been varying from hospital to hospital. While several hospitals opted for the latest technologies, some could not afford them. So, it was not advisable for a common protocol for all cancer hospitals so far.
Another outcome of the conference was the creation of the Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON) on the lines of the National Cooperative Oncology Network in the US. ICON would take the initiative in conducting cancer related clinical research in India for formulating appropriate treatment for all types of cancers in the country. The network would also design clinical protocols for hospitals based on the infrastructure.
The guidelines would be updated every year incorporating the advances in cancer treatment. One such advance was the use of gene therapy in providing relief to the patients. This facility would be introduced at the Apollo Cancer Hospital soon, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy said.
Dr Chitti R Moorthy, Director, New York Medical College, said informal discussions were held at the conference to explore the possibility of evolving a clinical treatment protocol. Discussions were held pertaining to research at basic level for prevention of cancer and subsidizing the treatment of cancer-affected women and children. He said since early diagnosis was essential for its cure, emphasis should be given on education of the general public in this regard. Close to 65 per cent of the cancers were caused by lifestyle and food habits, including smoking, drinking and a sedentary routine.
A Cancer Prevention Research Institute (CPRI) had been established in the city during the conference and Apollo Hospital had allotted space for the Institute. A project report on CPRI would be prepared and funds for the research organisation would be raised in the US, Dr Moorthy disclosed.
Addressing newsmen, Dr Vernon E Steele, Programme Director, Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, USA, said cancer was no more a death sentence. " What is needed is adherence to age-old habits of diet which are inherently balanced, an aversion to the fad of westernization, a keen look at the herbal wealth of India and adoption of an active lifestyle."
He said there was a great potential for developing anti-cancer drugs from traditional Indian medicines, including Ayurveda, and suggested that a collaborative effort should be undertaken by the experts from the two countries. He said he had suggested this to Dr R A Mashelkar, Director-General, CSIR, who had inaugurated the conference.
He said that turmeric had already shown to be a potent anti-cancer agent while several other compounds, particularly of traditional medicine, were yet to be discovered. He also stressed the need for creating more awareness among the people on cancer prevention. At least 30 per cent cancers were attributed to smoking and called for abstaining from tobacco. There should be greater intake of vegetables and decrease in the consumption of fat, especially animal fat. However, fat from fish was beneficial, he said.
Dr Steele said it was important to understand the family history, as it was now believed that colon cancer could be caused by genetic predisposition. He said that a particular syndrome predisposed people to colon cancer. The cancers of lung, breast and prostate were the top three types of cancers in the UD, he said.