Better cancer-care facilities and more awareness key reasons for surge in patients at hospitals

Better cancer-care facilities and more awareness key reasons for surge in patients at hospitals

The epidemiological and demographic transition in Kerala over the past two or more decades has left the State struggling with the issues of an ageing population and a steep increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Today, the cancer management facilities have grown in Kerala and have extended to the private sector as well. There are 13 hospital-based cancer registries in both the private and public sector as well as the Population-based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Malabar Cancer Centre.
Better cancer care and management facilities and improved awareness of cancer as a treatable disease are seen as key reasons for the surge in patients in hospitals, but that can hardly hide the fact that cancer incidence in the State has gone up significantly in recent years.
Data from the PBCRs of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Malabar indicate that, at any point in time, at least three lakh people are living with cancer in the State.
In 1982, the most common cancers among women were cervical, breast, oral and thyroid cancers in that order.
However, in the next 30 years, cancer of the uterine cervix declined significantly, while breast cancer incidence, especially among younger women, rose steeply.
Leading cancer
According to the PBCR Thiruvananthapuram, in 2014, breast cancer was the leading cancer among women, at an incidence rate of 52 per one lakh population, the highest in the country. Among men, lung cancer has come to replace oral cancers as the number one cancer prevalent among men, with an incidence rate of 23.3 per one lakh (2014), followed by oral cancers, colo-rectum and prostate.
Amongst women, after breast cancer, the common cancers are thyroid, cervix uteri, colo-rectum cancers, in that order. Data from the Malabar Cancer Centre PBCR in 2014 show a slightly different pattern, with cancers of the lungs, stomach, prostate, larynx and oral cavity being the common cancers in men, while in women, after breast cancer, the common cancers were that of the ovary, cervix, thyroid and lungs.
World Health Organisation’s cancer strategy document notes that while most of the common cancers are amenable for prevention or early detection and can achieve good outcomes with prompt treatment, in Kerala, over 50% of the patients with common cancers present themselves at hospitals at an advanced stage of the disease.
Five-year survival rates of common cancers are less than 50%, which is indeed a matter of concern and this has underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy involving prevention as well as early detection and management.
Public health neasures
When it comes to prevention, tobacco ban or restrictions are considered to be the single most important public health measure which can potentially reduce the risk of cancers. Tobacco-related cancers accounted for 37% of all cancers in men and 12% in women in 2011. The per capita consumption of alcohol in Kerala is also quite high and alcohol can potentially lead to cancers of the mouth, food pipe and the gastrointestinal tract.
In recent times, much research evidence has also come up suggesting links between cholesterol and fat and cancers. The high prevalence of overweight/obesity amongst the State’s population, low levels of physical activity and the fact that the consumption of meat has been going up while that of fruits and vegetables is quite low are important risk factors that need to be moderated through urgent public health interventions for the State to move forward in its fight against cancer.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact With thousands of charities competing for donations, it can be difficult to know where a financial gift to a good cause will make the biggest impact. This article outlines the top  breast cancer  charities in the United States and their specific contributions to the cause, plus other factors to keep in mind before donating. The history of the pink ribbon The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer and is often sold to raise money for breast cancer charities. Breast cancer activist and survivor Charlotte Hayley inspired the design of the pink ribbon, which is still in use today. Hayley initially handed out peach-coloured looped ribbons that she made herself with a card stating: "The National Cancer Institute's annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for  cancer  prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon." In 1991, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundati...
Read more

Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection?

Image
Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection? Everyone has experienced a nagging cough after a cold or needed to cough while in a quiet room. Despite these problems, coughing actually serves a very valuable and useful purpose. Coughing is a protective action, helping the lungs clear out potential germs or harmful objects.  Sometimes, however, that cough is not linked to a cold or infection and can linger for weeks to months at a time. This may lead people to wonder or worry that their cough is a sign of something more serious, such as  lung cancer . This article takes a look at the connection between coughing and lung cancer, including when someone should see a doctor. Coughing and lung cancer A cough associated with lung cancer may be either dry or wet. Not every a cough signifies the presence of lung cancer. However, many people do complain of a chronic cough or a "cough that just won't go away" at the time of their diagnosis. If a cough is associate...
Read more

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management  Research shows a possible link between diabetes and cognitive decline, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The scientific reason behind the link between diabetes and brain health is complex. Some scientists believe people with diabetes may also have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that could damage brain cells enough to cause memory loss. Studies are underway to understand why 80 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism. However, so far, longitudinal research has not produced a consensus view regarding the link between blood glucose levels and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, in South Florida, medical professionals are working with diabetic patients to minimize the risk of cognitive decline through a variety of methods that include lifestyle, medical and mental-...
Read more