Cancer Care campaign launched in Northeast

Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr. Jitendra Singh launched in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya, the first of its kind, weeklong Cancer Care campaign in Northeast under the auspices of "North Eastern Council (NEC) - Pink Chain Cancer Conclave 2016".

Launching first of its kind week long #CancerCareCampaign in #Northeast from #Shillong @mygovindia pic.twitter.com/2zXwPgLAuE

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 23, 2016

Health Minister of Meghalaya Mr. Alexander Laloo Hek and Secretary NEC Mr. Ram Muivah, besides Cancer Specialists and Research Scholars from social sciences and journalism were also present during the inaugural session.

The campaign is being attended by Cancer specialists from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and other parts of the country, and the weeklong programmes will include public education camps, academic discussions by medical experts and visits to educational institutions.

Delivered public lecture &launched in #Shillong first-ever week long CancerCareCampaign with doctors from #AIIMS . #Northeast @mygovindia

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 23, 2016

Dr. Jitendra Singh at the event:

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, this initiative has been undertaken considering the fact that North Eastern States are recording a much higher prevalence of Cancer compared to most other States of the country.

#CancerCareCampaign in #Northeast undertaken bcoz of higher prevalence ofCancer compared to otherStates @MyGovIndia pic.twitter.com/NjHx9451yf

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 23, 2016

He said, based on the experience of this weeklong experiment in Meghalaya, similar campaigns will also be organised in other seven States of North-Eastern Region. One of the objectives of this initiative would also be to update the medical professionals of the region on the recent advances in Cancer treatment and control, he added.

Training for North East doctors:

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that, beginning from January this year, an arrangement has been made with Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai for imparting short-term six-month training in Cancer to selected Physicians and Surgeons from North-Eastern Region. The entire expenditure for this will be borne by the Ministry of DoNER and Adyar Cancer Institute, he said.

#BarooahCancerInstitute Guwahati 2 start super speciality DM MCh courses #TransformingIndia #CancerCareCampaign

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 23, 2016

#AdyarCancerInstitute Chennai started short training for #Northeast doctors #TransformingIndia #CancerCareCampaign pic.twitter.com/VEqHFx89Nd

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 23, 2016

Dr. Jitendra Singh also informed that Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati will shortly start superspeciality DM Medical Oncology and MCh Surgical Oncology courses in Cancer, in collaboration with the Tata Memorial Institute, Mumbai and Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

Importance of awareness about cancer:

In an elaborate public awareness lecture on the subject of non-communicable diseases and Cancer, Dr. Jitendra Singh sounded a note of caution and said that the awareness and public education should be "optimum", which means that it should neither be too little nor too much, lest it should cause unwarranted alarm and apprehension in public psyche.

What is important to understand is what are the early symptoms of disease which should not be left unattended and in case the symptoms appear, who is the right medical professional or medical center to be contacted, because majority of Cancers occurring today are absolutely curable, if detected at an early stage.