On the eve of World Cancer Day, city oncologists claimed that there has been a substantial rise in cases of bowel and gastro-intestinal (GI)cancers due to changing dietary habits, which include more of processed food, alcohol and less of healthy diet.
According to World Cancer Report 2014 prepared by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO’s research body, cancer figures among the leading causes of mortality worldwide with about 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012.
Dr Vineet Talwar, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, said that with increasing urbanisation and western lifestyle, India’s epidemiology of cancers is also changing on western standards with GI cancers, gall bladder cancers, breast cancers and lung cancers becoming more common.
Nutritious food which includes vitamins and minerals with more of fibre content highly important for the patient undergoing cancer treatment, said Dr Talwar.
Meanwhile, Dr Amit Aggarwal, Consultant Medical Oncology at BlK Hospital, said, “Due to lack of knowledge, when people hear the word ‘cancer’ they get scared, some hide it and some use traditional medicine until it becomes too late for treatment.
Once detected, people think patients will die soon, however the fact is the quality of life can be improved through proper guidance of doctor and support of family.”
Not only this, cancer treatment leaves patient tired. They feel frustrated as not being able to do certain activities that one used to do before treatment.
Dr PK Julka , Professor in Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology at AIIMS that During the treatment, people should talk to patient that may be helpful to discuss coping strategies with a counsellor.