Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment with the advent of innovative surgical techniques, newer and effective chemotherapy drugs, sophisticated and computerized high precision radiation therapy has resulted in a better cure rate of cancer in recent years, according to Dr SH Advani, director of Asian Institute of Oncology and Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr Advani who served as former chief of Oncology at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai was at Hyderabad to launch the Apollo Freedom from Cancer Club. He said that the outcome of treatment for cancer has much to do with early diagnosis.

Late detection of cancer has always been the cause of risk for patients and the cost of treatment has been another issue of concern. Insurance is the single possible way one can solve the problem of meeting the treatment costs, Sangeeta Reddy, director of Apollo Hospitals Group, said on the occasion.

The Club will reinforce confidence and spread the message that cancer can be curable, by organising camps and awareness programmes, and all the Apollo Hospitals in the country will participate in the activity, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, director, Apollo Cancer Hospital, said.

The club will comprise of cancer survivors who have fought and overcome the disease, leading a normal life and will give courage to patients and their families to face the disease.