Only 20% cancer is cured in India: Prof Rath

GUWAHATI, May 12: “In the developed countries, 80% cancer is cured completely whereas in India only 20% of patients can be cured as 80% patients presently are in the advanced stage,” said Prof. G. K. Rath, Chief of BRAIRCH, AIIMS, New Delhi and Head, National Cancer Institute, India while delivering the conference oration on ‘Current Perspectives on Research in Radiation Oncology’.

Prof. Rath was addressing the august gathering in the North East Continued Medical Education (CME) program cum Workshop on Practical Aspects of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics held at Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati on May 11 and 12.

Prof. Rath highlighted that over the years, prognosis of many cancers has improved significantly and now-a-days cancers of breast, prostate, thyroid, leukemia, and lymphoma can be cured in more than 80% of cases. He laid emphasis on importance of research to find out the common causes of cancers in the country. He also gave a brief overview of National Cancer Registry Programme of ICMR in the country.

Delivering his welcome address, the BBCI Director Dr A C Kataki highlighted on high incidence of cancer and limited cancer treatment facilities in the North East. He laid emphasis on capacity development in Oncology to fulfill the manpower requirement of upcoming cancer centres in the region. Kataky also complemented the efforts of the State Government to establish 19 cancer centers in the State in collaboration with Tata Trusts.

Dr. Deshpande in his keynote address gave a brief overview of emerging technologies in the field of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics and called for coordinated working relationship between radiation oncologists and medical physicists. He appreciated the M.Sc course in Radiological Physics conducted by Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute in association with Department of Physics, Gauhati University.

Dr V Subramani, Head, Medical Physics Department, AIIMS and Dr. Supriya Mallick, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Radiotherapy, AIIMS, New Delhi spoke on “Various Aspects of Newer Technology in the treatment of cancer”.

For the benefit of delegates, 3 practical sessions on newer methods of treatment, planning and delivery was also organized, which was attended by 70 delegates from various parts of the North Eastern States.

Meanwhile, Dr. D D Deshpande, Professor & Head of Department of Medical Physics, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai was presented Life Time Achievement Award for his contribution in the field of Medical Physics in the country.

13The CME was organized in association with BRA-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and the National Cancer Institute, India.

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