'20 pc cancer survival growth due to multi-discipline therapy'

Varanasi, Dec 1 (UNI) The evolution of a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment has increased cancer survival rates in the country by at least 20 per cent, a radiation oncologist from Mumbai claimed here today.

Interacting with newspersons here this evening, Shyam Srivastava, Head of Radiation Oncology Department at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai said the multi-disciplinary approach -- a judicious combination of surgical oncology, radiation oncology and chemotherapy -- has increased the cancer survival rate by 20 per cent.

Prof Srivastava is in the city to attend the four-day 20th annual cancer conference organised by the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India which started at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here yesterday.

The approach that took almost two decades to evolve fully has increased survival rates in almost all cancer patients including those afflicted with head and neck (oral) cancer, breast cancer and cancer of the cervix.

''The multi-disciplinary treatment, however, has benefitted patients of pediatric cancer (cancer among children) most, where the survival rate now is as high as 40 per cent, especially in cases of pediatric solid tumours,'' he added.

''Take the case of breast cancer... earlier the surgeon used to remove the entire breast to treat the cancer, but now surgical oncologists just remove that part of the breast which is infected, followed by radio-therapy and chemotherapy which boosts the prospects of a patient's survival fully,'' Prof Srivastava maintained.

Prof Srivastava further maintained that pursuance of western lifestyles in metro and big cities of the country have brought down the cases of cancer of cervix, but life-style changes have increased incidences of breast cancer.

''Urban lifestyles have resulted in greater focus on staying clean and healthy which has resulted in a decline in cases of cancer of cervix. But delayed marriages and figure conscious mothers have made women more vulnerable to a breast cancer attack.'' The radiation oncologist also expressed concern over the lack of cancer knowhow among general medical practioners and advocated that cancer awareness be made a seminal part of MBBS curriculam across the country.

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