Cancer has become a serious health problem in today’s time, affecting millions of people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer accounts for 17% of global mortality, making it a major non-communicable disease (NCD). Recently, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav attended a cancer screening camp at Yedugundlapadu village in Maddipadu mandal. He informed that the state government has decided to screen all women above 18 years of age for cancer. However, due to lack of awareness, only 95 lakh people have been screened so far, while the target is to screen 4.07 crore people.
Cancer and its severity
Cancer is a disease in which the cells of the body start growing uncontrollably. This disease can affect any organ and if not treated on time, it can be fatal. According to the current data, 63% of cancers can be prevented, while 37% of cancers are caused by genetic reasons, which are difficult to prevent. According to experts, cancer can be defeated with timely diagnosis and correct treatment. This is why cancer screening programs are being organized, so that awareness among people increases and treatment can be started in time.
Cancer Screening Program Initiative
The state government started a special cancer screening program from November 2023, which aims to conduct regular screening of women above the age of 18 years. Under this program, a target was set to screen 4.07 crore people in six months, but due to lack of awareness, only 95 lakh people have been able to get screened so far. The initiative aims to detect cancer in women before time and start treatment at the right time. This will not only reduce mortality, but will also increase the life expectancy of people.
Important figures found in the camp
During the cancer screening camp, many important figures came to light. So far, 37,000 people have been found to have suspected symptoms of oral cancer, 26,000 people have cervical cancer and 25,000 people have breast cancer. In Yedugundlapadu village alone, 329 people were examined, in which 11 people were found to have symptoms of cancer. Of these, 10 were related to oral cancer and 1 to breast cancer. These figures show that cancer has become a serious problem and there is a need to run awareness campaigns on a large scale to prevent it.
Effect of cancer in women
Cases of cancer in women are increasing rapidly. Cervical cancer and breast cancer are being seen more. Health experts believe that women should get regular cancer check ups done, so that the disease can be detected in the early stages. If a woman suspects cancer, she should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection of cancer increases the chances of treatment, which can save lives.
Cancer awareness and prevention measures
It is very important to adopt the right lifestyle to prevent cancer. Smoking, alcohol, unhealthy food, physical inactivity and obesity are among the main causes of cancer. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and stress-free lifestyle can reduce the chances of getting cancer. Apart from this, vaccination and regular health checkups also play an important role. More and more people should participate in awareness programs run by the government and health organizations.
Courage to fight cancer
Positive thinking and self-confidence are most important in the fight against cancer. Actress Gautami, who is herself a cancer survivor, advised people not to lose courage. Sharing her story, she told that she got breast cancer four years after her mother’s death, when her daughter was just five years old. But she did not lose courage and fought and won this disease. Self-confidence and right treatment are very important to fight cancer.
Role of the government and future plans
The government aims to provide cancer screening facilities to as many people as possible. For this, special cancer screening camps are being organized in mobile health units, primary health centers and government hospitals. Apart from this, the government is also emphasizing on providing advanced facilities for cancer treatment. This will not only make timely treatment possible, but people from economically weaker sections will also benefit.
Cancer is a serious but preventable disease. It can be controlled with awareness, timely detection and proper treatment. People can protect their health by taking advantage of the cancer screening programs run by the government. Every person in the society should contribute to this initiative so that meaningful steps can be taken towards defeating cancer. There is no need to be afraid of cancer, but there is a need to defeat it by being aware of it.
Importance of cancer prevention and timely detection
The most important factors in cancer prevention are timely detection and preventive measures. When the symptoms of a disease are identified at an early stage, the success rate of treatment increases. In a country like India, where health services are still not accessible in many areas, cancer screening programs and awareness campaigns play an important role. In many cases, people ignore the symptoms and go to the doctor only when the disease has taken a serious form. To change this trend, health agencies and the government will have to make special efforts so that people can get themselves examined on time.
Lack of cancer awareness in rural areas
Access to health services in rural areas is extremely limited compared to urban areas. People’s awareness about cancer is also very low, due to which the tendency to get screened is seen to be low. Many times people believe that cancer occurs only to people with bad habits, while this is not completely true. Apart from this, lack of education and mistrust of medical facilities is also a reason for low cancer screening in rural areas. In such a situation, the government and social organizations need to jointly run awareness campaigns on a large scale in rural areas.
Main causes and risk factors of cancer
Cancer has many possible causes, some of which can be changed, while some are caused by genetic reasons. Smoking and tobacco consumption are considered to be the biggest causes, especially in cases of oral cancer. Apart from this, unhealthy food, obesity, physical inactivity, air pollution, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to radiation are also among the major causes of cancer. Hormonal imbalance in women and excessive use of contraceptive drugs can also increase the risk of cancer. The risk of cancer can be reduced to a great extent by changing lifestyle and proper diet.
Prevention of cancer with timely treatment
Many people consider cancer to be an incurable disease, but this is not entirely true. If cancer is detected at the right time, it can be controlled. Nowadays, there has been a lot of progress in medical science, due to which the success rate of treatment has become higher than before. Many advanced techniques like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery are available, which are helpful in the treatment of cancer. Apart from this, scientists are engaged in new research, which can lead to more effective ways of treating cancer in the future.
Myths and misconceptions related to cancer
Many misconceptions and myths are prevalent in India regarding cancer, which spread due to lack of correct information. Some people believe that cancer treatment is not possible and death is certain if this disease occurs. Whereas the truth is that if the disease is identified in the initial stage, then the patient can be completely cured with treatment. Many people also think that only smokers get cancer, while this is completely wrong. Apart from this, some people consider cancer to be a disease that spreads by touching or coming in contact with the patient, while it is not an infectious disease.
Changes in diet and lifestyle for prevention
A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are very important to prevent cancer. Eating green vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts and whole grains provides the body with essential nutrition and the risk of cancer can be reduced. One should avoid over-fried and packaged foods, as the harmful elements present in them can harm the body. Regular exercise, yoga and meditation can also prevent diseases like cancer. Apart from this, one should completely refrain from consuming tobacco and alcohol, as both these things increase the risk of cancer manifold.
Importance of health schemes and the role of the government
The Government of India has launched several health schemes for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Bharat), free treatment is provided to the poor and middle class people. Apart from this, many state governments are also running special health schemes on their own, through which people are being provided the facility of cancer screening and treatment for free or at concessional rates. But the benefits of these schemes will be available only when people become aware and get their tests done on time and come forward for treatment.
Inspirational stories of cancer survivors
Many people who have fought cancer have proved that this disease can be defeated with the right treatment and positive thinking. Many famous personalities have also been cancer survivors and have inspired millions of people with their stories. People like actress Manisha Koirala and cricketer Yuvraj Singh are living a new life by defeating cancer. Their experiences show that patience, confidence and right treatment are most important in the fight against cancer.
Role of family and society
After the detection of cancer, the role of the patient’s family and society is very important. It is important to keep the patient emotionally and mentally strong, because many physical and mental challenges come during cancer treatment. Family members should support the patient with patience and positivity. Society should also be sensitive towards cancer patients and come forward to give them courage.
Cancer is a serious disease, but it can be prevented by timely examination, awareness and adopting a right lifestyle. People can protect their health by taking advantage of the screening schemes run by the government. Society and family should also support cancer patients so that they can stay mentally strong and fight this disease. Most importantly, we have to remove the misconceptions about cancer and develop the habit of getting tested on time. Awareness and timely treatment is the most effective way to prevent cancer.