Visakhapatnam :
Utter the word ‘cancer’ and it immediately conjures up images of death in the minds of people. This misconception prevails, despite doctors’ assurance that in 85-90% of cases, cancers are curable if detected at an early stage. Quite relevantly, the worldwide theme for this year’s World Cancer Day (February 4) is ‘Debunking myths and misconceptions about cancer’.
Despite medical and surgical advancement in the field of oncology, the most common myth associated with cancer is considering it synonymous with death besides other myths and misconceptions related to the availability of treatment, cancer drugs and their side effects and so on.
Dr P Ravi Mohan, associate professor at Andhra Medical College (AMC) and consultant medical oncologist averred, “Patients and their families still can’t accept cancer as any other ailment. They should understand that cancer is very much curable if diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Even in advanced stages, certain types of cancer can be cured. They also think there’s no point taking proper treatment as death is inevitable and worsen the situation by visiting quacks. Thirdly, there’s a misconception among most people that cancer affects only the old. However, age is no determinant and even an infant, youngsters or centurions can be affected by cancer.”
Myths and misconceptions surround the mode of treatment and medicines too. For instance, it’s believed that all cancer drugs are costly, toxic and have tremendous side effects. However, only around 20-25% cancer drugs have some side effects and not all drugs are expensive. “Further, the myth that cancer is contagious prevails usually among rural people with limited literacy. Genetic predilection can be a risk factor in certain types of cancer but no cancer is contagious. Most patients, especially those of breast cancer, are also traumatised at the thought that the affected organ has to be removed if cancer strikes. But nowadays, with advanced medical and surgical procedures, it’s not required and even in case of partial removal, reconstruction can be done,” added Dr Ravi Mohan.
Summing up the misconceptions related to cancer, Dr Lalit Varadapande from Queen’s NRI Hospital said, “Patients feel there’s no need to talk about cancer, cancer displays no signs and symptoms, nothing much can be done about cancer and patients don’t have right to access proper cancer care. Awareness is the most important requirement so that early screening and diagnosis can facilitate treatment at stage one or two.”
As per recent data provided by the Indian Council for Medical Research, more than 10 lakh people are affected by cancer in India annually. In 2012, more than 5.55 lakh people have died due to cancer in India.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Sulogna Mehta, TNN / February 04th, 2014