Cancer experts in the country have deplored that the steps taken by the  government to control the deadly cancer is ineffective in the country as the cancer burden is increasing to the level of epidemic.

On eve of world cancer day 2012, they discussed about the magnitude of problem and felt that the problem persists in taking a horrifying turn because though we have cancer control programmes, the measures taken are not serious to enough to instigate oneself to really quit smoking tobacco which is one of the major causes of cancer. Laws are not stringent enough and cancer is now taking a serious turn of killing young adults and teenagers due to lack of awareness about the harmful effects. Head and neck and lung cancers remain the major killers.

Speaking on eve of world cancer day 2012 Dr N K Pandey, chairman and managing director, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad and Dr B C Roy National Award Winner said that chewing and smoking tobacco is becoming very popular and is like status symbol in young generation. Besides, hookah parlours have become the most popular places of hangouts after college.

Hookah smokers think that it is less harmful than cigarettes, but the fact is that it carries same risk as cigarette. Smokeless tobacco / chewing tobacco causes deleterious effect on oral cavity and causes tongue buccal mucosa, floor of mouth and other head and neck cancers which not only compromises the quality of life but sometimes there is no life at all.

Lack of exercises, unhealthy eating habits exposure to environmental pollution, pesticides and adulterated food we consume are some of the modifiable risk factors which can cause 80-90 per cent cancers.

Cancer is a growing epidemic in India and prevalence on the estimated cancer risk at any given point of time is approximately 2-3 million with over 8-9 lakhs cases being detected every year. 5.5 lakh patients die due to cancer every year. And 70-80 per cent cancer cases are treated in third or fourth stage. When the curative treatment may not be offered to them and only some palliation is possible to reduce the symptoms.

If we have to conquer the disease we will have to prevent it from happening, we can only do it by preventing the risk factors of which tobacco abuse is the major cause. We have to improve eating habits, dietary fibers of plant origin has protective role against cancer. Lack of exercise sedentary life style leads to obesity may be potentially harmful.

Another expert Dr Manav Manchanda said, “Lung cancer cases and COPD cases are also on the rise due to the person inhaling second-hand smoke, industrial carcinogens like asbestos, air and vehicular pollution. Though it is a well established fact that tobacco use has been recognized as one of the biggest public health hazard, we need to curb other factors too such as rising levels of environmental pollution and industrial pollution and use of asbestos.”

Stressing on management of cancer Dr Pandey said aware society is a healthy society. Cause of cancer may not be well understood thus early detection and prompt treatment can result in better out come because advanced disease leads to psychological and financial burden and poor treatment out come.

Dr Neetu Singhal, Sr. Consultant, Radiation Oncology said that timely diagnosis and early treatment is the only way to control the epidemic. Today modern and sophisticated diagnostic tools are available to not only diagnose early lesions but also lesions in premalignant stage which are likely to develop into frank malignancy if not treated in time. Earlier when patients had to be treated with old techniques leading to a lot of side effects, with new era treatment better surgical techniques, new molecules in chemotherapy and better radiation machines with IMRT, IGRT, Stereo tactic and cyber knife; these machines can not only treat early diseases without much side effects but also can lead to organ preservation especially in case of breast, larynx and rectal malignancy.

To conclude, way to cure of cancer may be long but efforts have to be sincere and strong. More stringent laws for tobacco cessation are required and better awareness about the disease is required.