Indian Cancer Congress to frame strategies to tackle cancer

Bhubaneswar, Jan 4 (PTI) With cancer cases in thecountry set to rise nearly five fold by 2025 from about 20lakh at present, Indian Cancer Congress-2011 is being heldhere from February 11 to frame strategies to tackle themenace.

"There are around 15 lakh to 20 lakh cancer cases atany given point of time in India and the number is expected toincrease five times by the year 2025," Organising Secretary ofthe three-day Congress Dilip Kumar Agarwalla told reporters.

Describing cancer as one of the ten leading cases ofdeath in the country, he said over seven lakh new cases ofcancer and three lakh deaths occur annually due to cancerwhile about 15 lakh patients require facilities for diagnosis,treatment and follow up at a given time.

As cancer usually occurs in the later years of life,with increase in life expectancy to about 68 years the totalcancer burden from all categories is likely to increasesubstantially, Agarwalla said.

Chairman of the organising committee K S Panda saidabout 700 delegated from across the country and abroad arelikely to attend the biennial Congress which would provide anoppurtinuty to share emerging challenges and successes indisease management.

Describing tobacco as the leading cause of oralcancer, he said the objective is to strengthen the existingcancer treatment facilities which are inadequate in India.

Also important is primary prevention of cancer byhealth education regarding hazards of tobacco consumption andnecessity of genital hygiene for prevention of cervicalcancer, he said adding more attention is also needed forsecondary prevention like detenction and diagnosis for cancer.