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China and India two of the world's most populous nations face a huge cancer burden according to experts. Tobacco-use, belated diagnosis and unequal access to healthcare treatments are the major reasons for this large-scale problem according to a report in The Lancet Oncology. In China, one out of every five deaths is due to cancer second only to cardiovascular ailments according to the study. The problem is compounded by misplaced faith in traditional medicine and low awareness.
In India, around a million new cases are diagnosed each year, a tally which will reach 1.7 million by 2035 and deaths due to cancer are 600,000-700,000 each year. The study found that while incidence of cancer in the Indian population is lower than Europe or the US, the mortality rates are higher. Fewer than 30% of the population survive cancer for more than 5 years after the diagnosis while 66% deaths occur among people aged between 30 and 69.
The most common cancer killer in India is breast cancer while 40% of cases are attributable to tobacco use. Diagnosis is a big problem along with lack of cancer care facilities in the northern, central and eastern regions of the countries which reflects the nation's asymmetrical healthcare resources. For example, in rural India, three out of four cancer cases are found by private practitioners who have no medical qualifications whatsoever.
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'The need for political commitment and action is at the heart of the solution to India's growing cancer burden,' said Mohandas Mallath, a professor at the Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata. 'The extent to which death and illness from cancer will actually increase in the next 20 years will depend a lot on the investments made in future decades in tobacco control, healthcare delivery, cancer research, (and) clinical trials,' he said. Also vital, he said, will be boosting public awareness about smoking and of the benefits a healthy diet and lifestyle, as well as investment in vaccinations against cancer-causing viruses.
Some common cancer-related myths:
Myth 1: Nothing can be done about cancer. Treatment is only meant to delay death
Fact: With early diagnosis and right treatment strategies, one third of common cancers can be prevented and treated. According to 2008 statistics on cancer survivors, 0.64 million deaths were reported in India. This number has reduced to 0.56 million according to the 2010 statistics. Although the change is not that significant, but there's surely a reduction in death cases. The number of cancer survivors is increasing day-by-day. Moreover, with latest developments in cancer treatment, the quality of life of cancer patients can now be improved to a great extent. Read more about the predicted increase in new cancer cases by 2025.
Myth 2:You cannot control your risk of getting cancer
Fact: There's no single magical spell that can completely prevent cancer, but with awareness, lifestyle and dietary changes, the risk of cancer can be reduced greatly.
Myth 3:If you don't have anyone in your family suffering from cancer, you have nothing to worry about
Fact: It's true that cancer is hereditary, but only 5 to 10 percent of cancers are inherited through genes. Mutation in cancer causing genes is the main reason why cancer develops during a lifetime. These changes mainly occur due to smoking, tobacco use, radiation and exposure to different chemicals. Read more
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