SHILLONG: The North Eastern Council (NEC) in collaboration with the Dorbar Shnong, Nongrim Hills is holding the NEC-Pink Cancer Chain Conclave from April 23-29 at the NEC auditorium and at different educational institutions, NEHU and HQ, 101 Area. Dr Abhishek Shankar, Cancer Specialist, AIIMS, New Delhi is leading the programme.
Dr Shankar, writing to The Shillong Times said, “Cancer has been plaguing India and many other Low and Middle Income Countries. In fact, there is gradual yet consistent increase in the incidence of cancer the world over. The present cancer burden is quite alarming at 25 millions globally and 2.5 millions for India. What is more alarming is that this figure is going to increase 50% by the year 2020 as predicted by World Health Organization.”
While technological advances have drastically curtailed most infection related diseases, the opposite is true of cancer. Dr Shankar observes from findings that certain cancers are relatively high in Northeast compared to national figures. The incidence of stomach cancer is very high in Mizoram and is comparable to that of Japan, the highest in the world.
The higher incidence is attributed to the habit of consuming water filtrate of tobacco which is even sold in the open market by the name of “Tuibur”, and also the popular habit of consuming smoked meat, higher drinking habits, high level of cigarette smoking etc.
In Manipur, the incidence of lung cancer is very high both in males as well as in females. This is owing to the habit of heavy tobacco use in the form of smoking, hookah etc by our elders (a pastime in the past) and smoke filled housing environments as prevalent before electricity was available in Manipur.
The incidence of Nasopharyngeal cancer is also relatively very high in Manipur mainly because of consumption of smoked meat or fish, salted fish, household burning of fire wood and other environmental factors. Paan eating habit with or without tobacco is a relatively newly acquired habit in Manipuri females in the last one decade or so.
Predictions are that there will be higher incidence of oropharyngeal cancers in Manipuri women in coming 15-20 years (Carcinogenesis roughly takes 20-25 years from start of exposure).
In Assam, oesophageal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer and oral cancer are very common mainly due to the consumption of betel-nut (Areca nut) and perhaps higher use of alkaline food.
In Nagaland, nasopharyngeal and stomach cancers are very high mainly due to high consumption of smoked meat and alcohol besides other factors. The trend in Meghalaya is very near to that of Assam and is high on oesophageal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer because of the similar habit of betel-nut chewing.
Stomach cancer is also common in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in males likely because of similar habits as in Mizoram (except use of tuibur). “So it is quite obvious that the food we eat, the life-style we follow and the environment we live in will predict what type of cancer we will suffer from,” observed Dr Shankar.
Cancer is a preventable disease provided people take precautionary measures. Prevention remains the most desirable tool in the array of cancer management. Understanding this fact, Preventive Oncology has come up in a big way particularly in the western countries.
Cancer prevention is achievable by avoiding all the harmful carcinogenic agents like tobacco, strong chemicals, preserved, charred and infected foods, excessive ultraviolet rays etc and by consuming wholesome food mainly based on green leafy vegetables and fruits and by following an active life-style.
Next to prevention, early detection (detection in stages of I and II) is the second best approach. If detected early, with proper treatment, a cure of almost 80% of the patients can be achieved, a contradiction to the common belief that cancer is incurable.
Early detection can be achieved by having regular health check-up, at least once yearly after 40 years age and by understanding the warning signals of cancer and reporting to the concerned doctors on earliest instance of having any of the suspicious signs and symptoms.
From the health administrators and health providers perspective, conducting regular screening programmes to susceptible subgroups of the populace also pays a long way in the early detection of cancer.
The NEC- Pink Cancer Chain campaign starts with a conclave and will have panel discussions with the participation of prominent personalities from various strata of society viz. oncologists, media, sports, fashion, film and theatre, politics and bureaucracy.
To present the status of cancer care in the NER is Dr Judita Syiemlieh, Dr Biswajit Debbarma of Tripura, Dr Amal Kataki from Assam and Dr B Zothinkima from Mizoram. A Panel discussion on “Significance of technology (IT, Radiation) and media in revolutionizing cancer care and practice of alternative medicine in cancer care: North East Perspectives,” will follow.
A play on Cancer ‘CAN SURVIVE’ by alumni of National School of Drama, New Delhi: Pink Chain Campaign and Rang Virasat is slated at 5.45 pm at the NEC Indoor Hall on April 23. On 25th the programme moves to St Mary’s and Loreto Schools while on 26th Dr Shankar will address the NEC officers and staff and Dorbar Nongrim Hills
On 27th the programme moves to NEHU, on 28th April, to the Jowai District Library Auditorium and on 29 at the HQ 101 Area.
At all the above venues Dr Abhishek Shankar, Cancer Specialist, AIIMS, Delhi will be lecturing on “Cancer (Breast, Cervix, Lung, and Head & Neck Cancer) with emphasis on cervical cancer vaccine, prevention and early detection Cancer Specialist, AIIMS, Delhi.
