Continuous rise in the use of tobacco products and lack of awareness among people are the prime reasons for rise in number of cancer cases in Ranchi and its adjoining areas, say doctors ahead of World NO Tobacco Day of Friday.
According to rough figures every year around 30,000 to 40,000 cancer cases are witnessed in Jharkhand. Ranchi has seen a regular increase in numbers with the most common occurrences being cancer of the mouth (oral), cervical, and stomach. Oral cancer is the most common among the three and the biggest reason behind this is an alarming rise in consumption of tobacco and its product.
Apollo hospital of Ranchi in last five years has treated 6,000 cancer patients and out of them 3,000 patients suffered from oral cancer. “It has been seen that one out of eight women and one out of seven men will more likely suffer from cancer in their lifetime.
“Around 40 per cent cases witnessed is of oral cancer as people here consume large amount of tobacco, Handia, biri (made of tendu leaves) and Mahua, as a result of which oral cancer is existing the most and this type cancer is found in male mostly,” said Dr Dhiraj Sinha, cancer specialist of Radium Cancer hospital at Kanke Road at Ranchi,
“Total ban on sale of tobacco and related products can help in reducing cases of cancer by 50 per cent, ” he added further. Besides tobacco induce cancer change in lifestyle is also seen as a reason for other type of cancer.
“Women here mostly suffer from cervical cancer and stomach cancer and the reason behind this is lack of education among them and early marriages. Frequent delivery of children and lack of hygiene around them leads to this type of cancer, when I was practicing in Delhi there women mostly suffered from breast cancer but in Ranchi Cervical and stomach cancer is popular”, Sinha said.