Six lakh people suffer from cancer annually

BANGALORE:  A seminar at St John’s Health and Medical College on Friday revealed that around six lakh patients suffer and succumb to cancer in India annually. In Dean’s Lecture Series-Fourth, professor of Medicine Haematology and Oncology Arun Seth from St John’s Medical College Hospital presented a paper on cancer mortality in the country.“About 6 lakh patient suffer and succumb to cancer in India annually. Men are more prone to cancer than women. Men suffer from oral, lung and stomach cancer. Women mostly suffer from cervical and breast cancer. I found that tobacco related caner and cervical cancer are the major causes of death among the working population.”However, he added that in Muslim women the incidence of cervical cancer is much lesser as compared to women from other communities in India.“In Karnataka,  men and women between the ages of 30 and 69 are the worst sufferers. However, people from states like Odhisa and Bihar suffer more from cancer,” he added.Professor of Surgical Oncology and Director Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology Dr Vijayakumar said, “Education among the public is a must to curb the risk of cancer. In Karnataka, Kolar  was identified as the hub for oral cancer. The hospitals cannot regulate everything, a policy making body at the government level should come up with the comprehensive plan and set up radio therapy machines in other district.”Professor of Surgical Oncology and Director Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology Vijayakumar, University Of Colorado award winner for outstanding performance in lung cancer research Dr Lakshmaiah and research scientist from Indian Institute Of Management Aditi Iyer were the panellists.