Concerned with the rising cases of cancer in Uttarakhand and to mark World Cancer Awareness Day, Max Super Speciality Hospital (MSSH) organised a 'Cancer Awareness Walkathon' in Dehradun on Tuesday.
As many as 250 people participated in walkathon that was flagged off by the cancer survivors from Ashley hall and ended at the starting point. The objective of walkathon was to create awareness about how regular screening could detect cancerous symptoms at an early stage when cancer treatment was better with higher survival rates.
The cancer survivors who participated in walkathon have motivated many patients to remain determined throughout their cancer journey and to not to lose hope at any time. later addressing mediapersons, Dr Akash N Gaind, Consultant- Surgical Oncology and Dr Rudranath Talukdar, Consultant, Medical Oncology at MSSH, Dehradun highlighted the prevalence of cancer in the region and how it could be reduced.
Dr Gaind said that Uttarakhand has come in the grip of cancer over the last few years. In the past 6 months, since the inception of the Department of Oncology at Max Hospital, we have reviewed more than 1000 cancer patients. Most of these patients approach doctors at a very critical stage which further toughens the treatment and curem process. It was critical to spread awareness about early detection of cancer which greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. In early stages like Stage I and II, prognosis and survival was about 80-100 per cent as against stage III and IV when prognosis was only 30-50 per cent, informed Dr Gaind.
Dr Talukdar said that at Max Hospital, we have witnessed cancer cases coming from different parts of Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Roorkee, Muzaffarnagar and Poanta Sahib. With the launch of Department of Oncology, we aimed to address this problem of accessibility and ensure immediate, effective treatment to every patient who walks into the hospital.