The worst carcinogens in India are poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. While prevention is the only cure for cancer, knowledge is the only solution to both cure and prevention. Due to poverty, illiteracy and ignorance among the people, knowledge about cancer cannot be spread and, consequently, efforts towards its prevention are faced with problems.

This was stated by Dr R A Mashelkar, Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on Saturday, while formally inaugurating the three-day conference, CanCER CI-2003 (cancer care, education and research -- conference international) which was held from August 22 to 24. The conference was jointly organised by Apollo Cancer Hospital, New York Medical College, CURE Foundation and Indian Cooperative Oncology Network, the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI), the Indian Society of Oncology (ISO), the Indian Society of Medical & Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO) and the Asian Institute of Oncology (AIO).

Dr Mashelkar said cases of breast cancer and cervical cancer were on the rise in the country because women did not understand what was happening to them when they were affected by the disease which could be easily cured if detected in the early stages. Early marriage, multiple pregnancies and lack of hygiene were issues that had to be solved to liberate women from cervical cancer which accounted for almost 30% cancers in the country.

He said people should be informed that cancer was curable and there was no need for fear or panic. At present about 10 million new cancer patients were added every year. By the year 2020, about 20 million patients would be added every year. Unless this growth rate was prevented, cancer would continue to be a major health hazard and killer disease.

Dr Mashelkar said India was emerging as a healthcare destination because of the cost comparison, quality and competence. Treatment would be 10-15 times costlier in the developed countries when compared to the world-class facilities available in India. The tender, soothing care was typical of India. To the applause of the packed audience, he mentioned the case of Noor, the Pakistani child who became the darling of India when it came for a successful heart operation in a Bangalore hospital recently.

He complimented Dr Pratap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Group of Hospitals, whom he called a pioneer and innovator in the healthcare sector. India, which was a great intellectual power house, could play a major role in the world with guidance and inspiration from dreamers like Pratap Reddy, Dr Anji Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy’s Labs, and Dr Varaprasada Reddy, the founder of Shanta Biotechnics, Dr Mashelkar said.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Pratap Reddy said India was as good as any place in the world in healthcare. Because of the heavy investment on the new technology, the cost of healthcare had gone up. This was not only in India, but also in the developed countries. He said only less than 3 % of the patients the world over could pay for the delivery of the new technology in healthcare.

Dr Reddy underscored the need for an intermediate mechanism like insurance to share the responsibility of healthcare. During the last 20 years, the Apollo Hospitals was providing clinical excellence with care, compassion and commitment to its patients. He pointed out that early detection of the disease was the only solution for cancer and in this direction public interface with physicians at the grassroot level was important. He asked the delegates to ponder over the vital questions – What can we do in prevention? What can we do in creating awareness among the people?

To mark the occasion, CURE Foundation, a non-profit organisation to treat poor cancer patients at Apollo Hospitals, was inaugurated by Dr Anji Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy’s Foundation. Speaking after inaugurating the Foundation through a hi-tech device from Taj Residency, the venue of the conference, Dr Anji Reddy said several new molecules were being developed by world renowned pharmaceutical companies, including Dr Reddy’s, to fight cancer. He said the painful chemotherapy and other conventional modes of treatment would be things of the past very soon.

Talking about the objectives of the CURE Foundation, Sangita Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said the Foundation would promote cancer awareness, encourage cancer research and education and provide subsidized / free treatment for poor and needy patients. About 100 DWACRA (development of women and children in rural areas) women were screened at CURE Foundation on Saturday free of cost, she said.

Besides undertaking rehabilitation programmes and scientific research in oncology, the Foundation would promote scientific exchange of knowledge, share techniques and results of research with other institutions and present awards and fellowships to outstanding oncologists and students. She said the patients deserved the best and the Indian doctors were capable of giving it. And Apollo would provide the necessary infrastructure at any cost.

Dr Chitti R Moorthy from New York Medical College, who was the brain behind the conference, inaugurated a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator at Apollo, also in hi-tech style from the conference venue. Inaugurating the latest device, Dr Moorthy also emphasised the need for prevention and education on cancer. He said no matter what kind of technology was available, it was difficult to provide treatment if the patients came at a very late stage.

Dr Moorthy said in the US curing a patient would cost around $ 15,000 but an uncured patient would cost more than $ 75,000.

Dr Varaprasada Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of Shantha Biotechnics, released a brochure on CURE Foundation and spoke about the discovery, development and marketing of the first Recombinant DNA Hepatitis-B Vaccine (Shanvac-B) which has the WHO recognition and the first Indian cancer drug Shanferon Alfa by his company.

Dr Vijay Anand P Reddy, Director of Apollo Cancer Hospital and Organising Secretary of the Conference, said more than 500 oncologists, radiologists and others associated with the treatment of cancer had participated in the conference. About 15 specialists from abroad delivered lectures and presented papers on head and neck malignancies, urological cancers, gastro-intestinal malignancies, cancer in women and children, oncologic imaging for the new millennium, new technologies for the new millennium etc, the focus being prevention of cancer with emphasis on aspects in the day-to-day lifestyles, which could lead to cancer, identify causes of cancer and cancer producing factors.

World renowned cancer specialist, Dr Vernon Steele of National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA, inaugurated the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRI), the first of its kind cancer research institute in Andhra Pradesh, under the banner of Apollo Hospitals.