Cancer is a disease, which causes uncontrolled growth in the cell of body. This carries a high rate of mortality and almost four lakh cancer patients die in a year.
The cancer of oral cavity in both men and women are the most common malignancies but among women cancer of breast and cervix are very high.
It has been estimated that about 36% of the total cancer cases are related to tobacco use. So far there is effective medicine to completely treat this disease but its early detection and thereby treatment can save the life of a person. Cancer has become an important health problem in India as 7-9 lakh cases occurring every year.
The National Cancer Control Programme was launched in 1975-76 with the objective of primary prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. It was further revised in 1984 with the objective of (i) primary prevention (ii) secondary prevention and (iii) tertiary prevention. The primary prevention included health education and prevention of intake of tobacco.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The secondary prevention includes early detection of cancer and the tertiary prevention added various types of treatment. Under the programme, regional cancer centers have been strengthened. Several schemes were also initiated for the development of oncology wings in the medical colleges to fill the geographical gaps in the detection and treatment of cancer.
Since the beginning of the National Cancer Control Programme in 1975-76, it has undergone three revisions with the third revision completed in December 2004. Under the revised programme, the primary focuses on correcting the geographical imbalance in the availability of cancer care facilities across the country. There are 5 schemes under the revised programme
(i) Recognising of new Regional Cancer Centers by providing a one time grant of Rs. 5 crore.
(ii) Strengthening of existing Regional Cancer Centers by providing a one time grant of Rs. 3 crore.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(iii) Development of oncology wings by providing enhanced grant of Rs. 3 crore to the government institutions.
(iv) Development of District Cancer Control Programme by providing grant of 90 lakhs.
(v) Decentralized NGO scheme by providing a grant Rs. 8000 per camp to it.
There are various methods available for the treatment of cancer such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But surgery is the most effective mode of treatment for cancer. It is also estimated that, about 60% of cases need chemotherapy. Surgery facilities are available in all major hospitals.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
There are about 160 cobalt therapy units in more than 90 institutions in the country. However, chemotherapy can be made available at any major hospital in the country-trained physicians. A highly sophisticated machine for cancer has been developed and installed at PGI, Chandigarh. With this achievement India has joined hi-tech areas in electronics for health care.