Despite the fact that we understand Cancer as a disease a lot better now than we did a century ago, with survival rates in certain cancers being as high as 90%, we definitely have some dreadful challenges that are unique to our country.
Here is all you need to know about the most common cancers in India:
One of the leading diseases in India is Breast Cancer. A painless lump in the breast, blood discharge from the nipple, a sudden change in the size and shape of the breast or nipple retraction - all of these are some of the many symptoms of the deadly disease.
Mammography is a type of screening tool used to detect early cancer through x-rays of the breast that produces an image of tissues, giving out both the normal and the abnormal structures within the breast.
To add to this, most women can easily self-diagnose their condition to identify and understand the presence of masses or lumps that indicate cancerous outgrowths. In fact, the very reason why India has an incredibly low breast cancer survival rate for women in India is due to a consistent lack of awareness and miserable early screening and diagnosis rates.
When the abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control, there's a risk of having Cervical Cancer. This is one of the deadliest diseases considering the fact that this cancer can only be treated if it is detected at an early stage. It is diagnosed by the PAP test.
Amongst many, some important symptoms of this cancer are bleeding from vagina apart from one's menstrual cycle, menopause or right after intercourse. Other symptoms include pain during intercourse or pain in the lower belly or pelvis.
To add to this, the PAP test along with a sample biopsy tissue is the one and only way to identify, detect and thereby, treat cervical cancer patients. In the test, the doctor scrapes a minute sample of the cells right from the surface of the cervix in order to look for abnormal cell change.
A total of about 3 lakh cases of oral cancer are detected annually. Amongst these 3 Lakh cases, roughly 86% are reported from India. Considering that this is the third most common cancer in our country, it has definitely become a major problem in our lives.
Alcohol consumption and tobacco are the two most probable risks to develop oral cancer. Just like any other type, an early detection of oral cancer at an initial stage has significantly led to noticeable decrease in sufferings and death rates. Typical symptoms of oral cancer include pain in the throat, uncured ulcers in the mouth, loose teeth and a certain degree of voice change and also a possible difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
For people who regularly smoke tobacco are advised to have regular self-examination of the oral cavity so as to keep a constant check. Additionally, the stage of the disease is dependent on various factors which include the size of the primary lesion, the involvement of the lymph node, local extension along with evidence of distant metastasis.
At times when you may feel certain sudden changes in your body, it is important to make a mental note of immediately getting yourself checked at hospitals that have expertise in this field, like the SRJ-CBCC Cancer Hospital in Indore.
The rapidly increasing number of cancer cases in India is an alarming concern. Considering the fact that this number is only possibly going to double over the next two decades, we must spread awareness, take regular check-ups and be careful.