Paediatric oncology has witnessed a boon with the opening of three childhood cancer units by the Tata Memorial Centre. The push will see the number of children able to access free cancer treatment from the Institute increase to 5,000 by the end of 2020, compared to approximately 2,500 at present. The takeover of hospitals by […]
Cancer
India’s cancer burden continues to grow
India’s cancer burden is continuing to increase according to recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The news came from minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey, who told the Lok Sabha that the Centre was emphasising its efforts to tackle breast, cervical, and oral cancer which account for 41 percent of […]
Non-smokers falling prey to lung cancer
The use of tobacco is widely understood as a risk factor for the development of lung cancer. However, in the National Capital Region (NCR), doctors report rising rates of lung cancer among non-smokers. “When I started operating on cancer patients in 1988, I found their lungs were pink,” Dr Arvind Kumar, chairman of the Centre […]
Cancer infrastructure needs an upgrade
Cancer is one of the leading threats to public health in India. An estimated 2.25 million people live with the disease in the country, with more than 1.15 million new cases registered and an estimated 784,821 deaths recorded last year. Despite this, the country’s cancer infrastructure is sorely lacking – as phrased by a parliamentary […]
Cancer registry announced in Rajasthan
A cancer registry has been announced by the Rajasthan health department to map cases of the disease in the state. The announcement responds to a disease which is growing in India. Already, cancer is the country’s second biggest killer after heart disease whilst India accounts for the third-highest number of cancer cases in the world […]
AI set to predict thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is increasing in prevalence among Indians at a rapid pace. Could new AI technology provide a far more efficient means to diagnose the disease? Artificial intelligence (AI) — or machine learning — may be the next major leap forward in the field of cancer diagnosis. The capacity for an automated programme to be […]
How the Indore Government Cancer Hospital’s cases reflects India’s breast cancer burden
In the Indore Government Cancer Hospital in India’s Malwa Nimar region, a sixty percent surge in breast cancer cases was witnessed – in just two years. Between 2016 and 2018, cases jumped from 700 to 1,125 according to hospital records. In the same timeframe, the total number of cancer increased by 12.5 percent, from 4,000 […]
Smoking in public: Is a ban on the cards in Goa?
A ban on smoking in public places is on the cards in Goa, according to state health minister Vishwajit Rane. “We are committed to making Goa tobacco-free,” Rane said. “For that we need to ban smoking in public places. The government will identify smoking zones in the state. Violators will be punished heavily.” Smoking is […]
More women are smoking in Hyderabad – and lung cancer cases are on the rise
In 2018, lung cancer killed 18,112 women in India with 19,097 new cases diagnosed among them. In Telangana, where cancer cases have sharply increased since 1990, state capital Hyderabad offers a warning sign to women who use tobacco: the majority of lung cancer cases in the city occur among women who smoke. According to a […]
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Lessons for India
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Telangana state capital Hyderabad commemorated the observance by illuminating monuments and other sites in pink – reflecting the colour of the ribbon which serves as the symbol for the event. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month…helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well […]