A convergence of efforts by the stakeholders to tackle the scourge of cancer would tip the scales in favour of those battling the disease at all levels, experts said at a gathering of cancer survivors here on Tuesday.
The person detected with the disease should not go into a depression or give up but face the issue boldly and the doctors treating the patient should correctly diagnose the problem and provide the right treatment while hospitals should come forward to ensure that the cost of treatment remained low, they said.
“Cancer is the third largest killer in our country after ailments related to heart; and brain and changes in lifestyle and food habits have a lot to do with the rise in incidence,” Prof Ashok Kumar Mohapatra, Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, told the gathering held at the Sum Hospital to mark the World Cancer Day.
He said hospitals can negotiate with the drug companies to get the medicines at a lower cost so that the benefit could pass on to the patients.
Hockey Olympian and Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey, the chief guest at the programme, called upon the youth to adhere to healthy lifestyle and shun junk food if they want to avoid health problems.
Dr Sunil Agrawal, Head of the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Sum Hospital, said he and his team have been treating cancer patients with success though early detection of the disease still remains the golden rule.
Dr Harsh Mohan Pathak of the Institute of Dental Sciences said that on an average a cancer patient spends `14,597 before he reaches a proper centre for treatment.