Where myth can bring an end to life

By Dr Jaydip Biswas

Worldwide cancer statistics are estimated at 14.1 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. It is estimated that there would be a substantive increase to 19.3 million new cancer cases per year by 2025, due to growth and aging of the global population. More than half of all cancers (56.8%) and cancer deaths (64.9%) in 2012 occurred in less developed regions of the world, and these proportions have been indicated to increase further by 2025.

Cancer is a disease where myth can bring an end to a life. Under such circumstances when India along with many other tions of the world is on the verge of a disastrous cancer epidemic, cancer awareness and prevention should be the prime focus. In view of this, the world cancer day which is observed annually on 4th February is an initiative to raise awareness against cancer and to encourage efforts in prevention, detection and treatment. United tions in the year 2011 had adopted a World Cancer Declaration which included an important issue to "dispel damaging myths and misconceptions" about the disease. Last year i.e. in 2014, the focus was on dispelling damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer under the tagline "DEBUNK THE MYTHS". In 2015, a year has passed and the tagline has changed.  This year the World Cancer Day has a contemporary stand point, which is ’Not beyond us’.

The World Cancer Day 2015 is expected to undertake positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer. The theme of this year will highlight that the solutions for cancer do exist and they are not beyond our reach: they are very much accessible for all. This year’s campaign intends to explore how to implement known areas of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care, and in turn, open up to the exciting avenues that will leave an impact on the global cancer burden – for the betterment of the society. This day is marked with hope and opportunities to raise awareness. The cumulative effort of an individual, a community and governmental would help to harness and mobilise these solutions and catalyse positive change. Thus though a dreadful disease, it is not beyond our scope. Together we stand and it will be easy to curb and fight the disease. Therefore, Cancer is not beyond us. This year emphasis has been put on four key areas, these are adopting healthy lifestyle, advocating early detection, imparting treatment for all, thereby maximising quality of life.

In Cancer treatment and research, the Chittaranjan tiol Cancer Institute (CNCI) in Kolkata has a glorified history as renowned persolities like Matatma Gandhi, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy had been associated with this Institute. The eminent gyecological oncologist, Dr Subodh Chanda Mitra, the founder Director of this institute laid the foundation stone of Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital (CCH) as a centre for cancer treatment with the help and support of Dr BC Roy. Dr Mitra felt that there should be a specialized hospital in this city for the treatment of malignt diseases and to carry out fundamental research on cancer.

The institute was formally iugurated by Nobel laureate Madame J Curie on 12th January, 1950 and med after Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. In order to pursue fundamental research on Chittaranjan tiol Cancer Research Centre (CNCRC) emerged in 1957. Later on the amalgamation of the two separate entities CCH and CNCRC took place in 1987 emerging as CNCI with the prime objective of serving as a premiere Regiol Cancer Centre for Eastern region of India. Presently CNCI is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. This one and only Regiol Cancer Centre cater to people from different states of India as well as neighbouring countries for the last sixty years.

With a vision of steady progress in the field of basic and clinical cancer research and targeted therapy, the country’s hospitals are envisaged to work hand in hand for a better tomorrow where the ill–fated cancer patients can combat the disease with the most effective and modernised treatments. (PIB)