Most forms of cancers are preventable: Experts

With 55,000 new cases of cancer being added every year in the state, an estimated half of them are succumbing to the disease, according to the statistics available at the Cancer Registry. Dr R Swaminathan, Professor and Head, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Cancer Registry, Assistant Director, Cancer Institute (WIA), says, “The highlight among these cases are that they are all preventable, either through lifestyle or dietary changes. The emphasis has to continue on the awareness front.” 

He points out that the west has been able to bring down the rates due to the measures taken on a war footing. He adds that while in Tamil Nadu, screening of breast and cervical cancer are part of the health package, the same must be stepped up when it comes to cancers concerning the men. Dr Anitha Ramesh, Professor and Head Medical Oncology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, emphasises that as far as oral and lung cancers are concerned, the underlying cause is tobacco. 

“Though we are raising awareness, we also need to look at how else the consumption of tobacco in any form can be reduced. We need to look at banning or work towards raising the costs of tobacco products so that consumption comes down,” she says. 

She adds that with dietary patterns that have turned western in the last few years, there has been an increase in the intake of high fibre food. A complete switch towards healthy living could be far more effective for curbing breast cancer rates. Almost 25 years ago, colorectal and prostate cancers were barely among the top 10 cancers. However, today they are very much in the list, in Chennai, points out Swaminathan. 

“Similarly, prostate cancer too has jumped many spots over the years,” he says. He adds that colorectal cancer largely caused by western diet, is bound to affect both men and women. “However, we see the cancer is more aggressive in men,” points out Dr Deepak Subramanian, gastro surgeon, Fortis Malar Hospital.  “We are seeing it among men as young as 28-30 years. We also need to increase awareness about symptoms,” he added.