A three-day international cancer conference – CANCER CI-2003 (Cancer Care, Education & Research -- Conference Internationale) will be held in Hyderabad from August 22 to 24, 2003. The conference, jointly organised by New York Medical College, New York, Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, CURE Foundation and the Indian Co-operative Oncology Network (ICON), will be formally inaugurated at 7 pm on August 23, on the second day, at Apollo Hospitals, by Dr R A Mashelkar, Director-General, CSIR. The scientific sessions of the conference will be held from August 22 to 24 at Hotel Taj Residency.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Organising Secretary, said CANCER CI-2003 would be a unique event. For the first time, all leading national associations involved in cancer care and rehabilitation like the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI), Indian Society of Oncology (ISO), Indian Society of Medical & Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO) and Asian Institute of Oncology (AIO) would be not only participating but sponsoring the conference. More than 600 oncologists from all over India would be attending the conference.

To mark the occasion, Dr Anji Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy’s Labs, would inaugurate the CURE Foundation at Apollo Hospitals, Dr Chitti R Moorthy, Director, New York Medical College, would inaugurate a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator at Apollo Cancer Hospital and Dr Vernon Steele, the renownrd cancer specialist from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA, would declare open a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRI), the first of its kind cancer research institute in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Vijay Anand Reddy said the conference would have presentations and deliberations by eminent cancer specialists and scientists, including 15 from abroad. The conference, he said, would focus on the entire spectrum of oncology including many new areas of research and findings in the treatment and cure of cancer. Molecular oncology, gene therapy, cancer prevention, effective screening methods, latest diagnostic tools and evidence-based standards of care would be some of the highlight areas of the deliberations.

Besides Dr Chitti R Moorthy, who would be the main specialist guiding the deliberations, and Dr Steele, the other speakers would include Dr Bandaru S Reddy, Associate Director, Cancer Research, Institute for Cancer Prevention, New York, Dr Lynn S Shih and Dr Michael S Tenner of New York Medical College, Dr Jason Koucher, Memorial Slaon Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, Dr Jonathan Beitler, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, Dr Mary K Hayes, Cornell University, New York and Dr Franz Hilgers, Netherland Cancer Institute, Bethesda.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Chitti R Moorthy said the main focus of CANCER CI-2003 would be women and children. Treatment of breast cancer, gynecological (cervic) cancer and children’s cancer would be discussed in detail. If the disease was diagnosed early these cases could be not only controlled, but successfully cured. Cancer was no more a death warrant, he said.

Then the emphasis would be on prevention of cancer by focusing on aspects in the day-to-day lifestyles which could lead to cancer, identify causes of cancer and cancer producing factors. Basic cancer research, including efforts to diagnose cancer at the molecule or single cell level – Back to Future – would form part of the conference.

Women with proper education could detect breast cancer at the early stages. Even doctors at the primary health centres need training to diagnose cancer and refer the patients to specialist hospitals, he said.

The conference would discuss the emerging therapies in cancer treatment. Dr Moorthy said India did not lag behind in technology for the treatment of cancer. The new radiation therapy would not harm the normal tissues but would target only the diseased areas.

Dr Bandaru Reddy spoke on Molecular Oncology which targets only the specific genes that are causing cancer and delay the progression of the disease. “ If we can target more than one gene, we can slow down the advance of the disease,” he said.

The changing lifestyles and westernisation of food habits play major role in cancer. Health education and learning in nutrition were very important in preventing the disease, he said. He said 90 % of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men could be cured by early detection of the diseases.

As part of the international conference, a free early detection cancer camp for DWACRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) women will be organized on August 22 at Apollo Cancer Hospital. This camp will be inaugurated by T S Yadav, Minister for Tourism. Besides screening, this programme involves educating and creating awareness about cancer. The Anganwadi workers attending this camp will be trained and guided on the signs and symptoms of cancer with the help of mannequins specially brought from the US. These Anganwadi leaders will, in turn, train other DWACRA women of their respective cells.

Another important programme is the linking of the telemedicine facility at the Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, with the New York Medical College and Memorial Slaon Kettering Cancer Center. This will help Indian surgeons to upgrade their knowledge and skills with the latest in cancer care and the patients can benefit by seeking consultation from the best cancer specialists and institutes in the world.

CURE Foundation, which will be inaugurated on August 23, at Apollo Hospitals, has been conceptualised and created for the less fortunate cancer patients. It will be the force behind initiating and supporting basic cancer research and setting up cancer screening and awareness camps in every corner of Andhra Pradesh. The Foundation aims to be a pioneer in conquering the challenges of cancer research under the patronage of philanthropists and people who wish to contribute to the society.