World Cancer Day: Early detection is necessary for treating cancer effectively: Dr. Kaushal Patel

Cancer is a deadly disease which results in uncontrolled cellular growth, which exceeds the limit of the organs from which it develops. Recent data suggests that cancer is the second most common cause of death globally, while cancer in the advanced stage is the number one cause of death in the world. So, it goes without saying that prevalence of cancer is increasing rapidly in the entire world. We need to raise awareness amongst the population to ensure early detection of cancer. Our current lifestyles also play a role in the growing number of cases of cancer in all age groups.

Recently, it was discovered that cancer in the pediatric population is also on the rise, especially, blood cancer, neuroblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. If we look at the etiological factors from the environment, then reasons like sedentary lifestyle, lack of the physical activity, excessive use of the tobacco in any form, excessive use of the alcohol, excessive use of the hormone therapy-particularly for the breast ovarian and uterine malignancy, lack of the vaccine like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human papillomavirus are majorly observed, which lead to the development of the cancer. But cancer is usually the result of both internal genetic make-up as well as external factors.

How we can prevent cancer is the most important question in today’s scenario. The screening procedure is available for the multiple types of cancer like breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, etc. Screening means the examination and test conducted to detect the cancer in pre-cancer or early stage in the normal population. Going by its definition, screening has to be conducted at frequent intervals, in order to make sure cancer is detected either in the pre cancer stage and early stage. Once this screening has been completed, we can immediately focus on curing the cancer in the very early stage with the help of minimal treatments available to us. Hence, it is advisable that screening becomes a part of our routine checkups after the age of forty five or fifty years, depending upon the organs in which we suspect the formation of cancer.

Lastly, looking at the treatments available to us in the present day, we can say that nowadays in 2022, there are numerous options available to us, which include surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy – the conventional treatments that are used worldwide. Apart from this we have options of the immune therapy that is the latest addition to the treatment options for cancer. Immune therapy has given extremely good results in the advance malignancy as well as the early malignancy. Also, it doesn’t have the grave side-effects like that of chemo therapy and the drugs have worked wonders for some patients.

Apart from immune therapy we also have targeted therapy which acts only on the cancer cells without damaging the normal body cells. This treatment is widely used in the early stage as well as in the advanced stage. Apart from this being healthy, exercising, maintaining proper diet and keeping away from smoking, tobacco, alcohol and any bad habits which lead to cancer is crucial.

This information is provided by DrKaushal Patel, an Oncologist/Cancer Specialist and Hematologist with an experience of 14 years.