Frightening fact: India likely to witness cancer
patients growing 300 times more within 10 yrs
urrently,
around 25 million people of all ages are afflicted by cancer in the country.
However, the number is increasing day by day with 8 to 10 million new patients
being added to the dreaded list, say experts. The number of cancer patients in
Vidarbha is highest but the region lacks Linear Accelerator Unit facility.
Moreover, there are only 2000 Radiation Oncologists in entire India as against
the requirement of 6000.
Nagpur News: Maharashtra
Chapter and Association of Radiation Oncologists of India organized a two-day
conference on recent advances in the Radiation Oncology field. The conference
was held in the memory of late Dr. J S Pinto of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
and Padmashree Dr. Ketayuna Dinshaw.
Currently, around 25
million people of all ages are afflicted by cancer in the country. However, the
number is increasing day by day with 8 to 10 million new patients being added
to the dreaded list, say experts. The situation becomes worse when the number
of insufficient doctors to treat these cancer patients is taken into
consideration. If the experts are to be believed, then there is drastic need to
have around 6000 Radiation Oncologists in the country. On the contrary, there
are only 2000 Radiation Oncologist doctors available. Cancer is spreading
rapidly in Asia continent and the number of the cancer patients is expected to
increase 300 times within 10 years.
Talking to Nagpur Today,
Dr. Ramesh Billimanga of Karnataka said, “Informal Radiation Technique (IRT),
image Guidance Modulation Therapy (IGMT) and Stereotactic Radio Therapy (SRS)
are the latest techniques which are being used to treat the cancer patients in
the country. The benefit of these therapies is that the normal tissues do not
get affected during the treatment which was till the case in older treatment
therapies,” said Dr. Ramesh Billimanga.
Expressing his views,
Secretary of MH AROI, Mumbai, Umesh Mahantasetti said that infrastructure in
rural areas should be the focus of the Central and State Government and they
should work for this delicate issue together. Currently there are 385 radio
therapy centers in India which should be increased to 12000-13000, asserted the
Radiation Oncologist and added that insufficient manpower is also a serious
issue as every Radiation Oncologist has the burden of many patients.
Dr. K. V. Kannan of Tata
Memorial Hospital said, “The number of cancer patients is rapidly growing in
the country and the future will witness more and more cancer patients in BRICS
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). He added that the
cancer patient should not travel more than 20 km. However, unfortunately, there
are hundreds of poor people who are forced to travel long distance as there are
no facilities near their place for treatment. In Vidarbha, the situation is far
more disturbing, said Dr K. V. Kannan. The number of cancer patients in
Vidarbha is highest in the country but still there is not a single Linear
Accelerator Unit which is shameful, lamented Dr. K. V. Kannan.
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