Cancer is a fearful word that makes the hearts of many people sink. It is a disease that does not have a select group of people it affects, and it targets all walks of life; it does not spare anyone, young, old, black, or white. India’s statistics show the problem of cancer, the millions of people affected, and the unbearable burden of the health care system. This blog post will examine why India needs to pay more attention to cancer care by discussing its current situation, issues, and potential solutions.
India’s Cancer Crisis
Recent research shows that the rate of cancer has tremendously risen in the last few years in all parts of India. Health care professionals insistent with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimated that there were about 15 lakh new cancer cases in the year of 2019. With regard to this report, such forecasts placed this figure which is nearly 20 lakh new cancer cases by 2026. This is more than the entire population of some small countries at the international level. These are not just mere statistics on paper but a raw portrayal of people’s lives that have been disrupted by this deadly disease, which affects families and communities, including our own.
Cancer in India and its specifics:
The common common ones are breast cancer, oral cavity, cervical cancer, lung and colon or rectum cancer as per 2006 Materials and methods. As you will observe, each of these cancers is unique in its clinical manifestation and the approaches to the prevention, detection as well as management.
One of the most difficult challenges is the illness’s late detection:
Delayed diagnosis is one of the biggest issues that India has to tackle in its struggle against cancer. Regrettably, it is often the case that most persons receive the heartbreaking news of cancer diagnoses in the later stages. Indeed, more than 70% of all cases with malignant tumors are classified at the later stages. This makes treatment much more complicated and reduces the chances of survival.
There are multiple reasons for this late detection. For many people in rural areas, healthcare facilities are not easily accessible. Regular checkups and screenings which could detect cancer at an early stage do not receive wide acceptance among them. There is also a lack of awareness on signs/symptoms associated with different forms of malignancies as well as importance of timely detection.
Another factor is that cancer has a stigma attached to it. Some people refrain from self-examination due to their fear of receiving a cancer diagnosis, which could lead to social discrimination. Consequently, such fear and stigma lead to delays in seeking medical help, making the issue worse.
High financial burden of cancer treatment:
In India, the cost of cancer treatment is a significant issue. Several families may slide into poverty after a cancer diagnosis. Treatment costs, which include surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiotherapy, may touch lakhs of rupees. The expenses are too much for a nation where most survive on meager sums of money.
Furthermore, India has limited health insurance coverage. Only 20% of India’s population are health insured covering cancer treatments. Thus, most people have to pay directly from their pockets to access such services when they happen to fall sick. As a result, many households will sell off their properties or loan amounts just to settle hospital bills related to cancer treatment—an act that leads to continued financial difficulties over time.
Shortage of Cancer Care Facilities and Specialists
There are few cancer care facilities and fewer specialists in India’s rural areas. Rural towns and villages often have people who must travel long distances for treatment. This results in increased costs and difficulty in regular treatment and follow-up care.
Another primary concern is the shortage of oncologists (cancer specialists). In India, the ratio of oncologists to cancer patients who are diagnosed with it is only about 1 for every 2000 patients, while according to WHO recommendations, it should be 1 for every 1000. This also translates into long waiting periods before getting an appointment or treatment, which could be crucial considering that timely intervention makes a difference where cancer is concerned.
The Need for Better Cancer Research:
Improving methods through which cancers are prevented, detected and treated depend on cancer research. Yet in comparison with many other countries India does not perform so well from this perspective. Therefore, there exists a great demand for enhanced funding and support for cancer research within India. This research might contribute to developing more efficient and less expensive therapies for Indians.
Furthermore, Indian researchers should focus on more prevalent cancers in the country. For example, in India, tobacco consumption is rampant, making oral cancer more common. Hence, research on these issues specific to India can aid in developing better prevention and treatment methods.
Awareness and Education is the First Step
Among the most crucial steps towards cancer control within India is creating awareness. Most people living in rural areas of India do not really know much about cancer at all. To them, they may not even know if there is any disease called, “cancer”. As such, they go undiagnosed until very late, when it becomes incredibly difficult to treat them for these diseases, which often lead to death. Thus, lack of awareness leads to late detection with poor prognoses.
A nationwide campaign on cancer is needed. Such campaigns should include areas like what one can do to reduce his/her risks of developing cancer, symptoms of cancer that is well-known, and importance of cancer screening. Such awareness will enable people to seek medical intervention early enough, which will increase the chances of recovery.
The Role of Technology in a Better Cancer Care:
Technology can do wonders in the field of cancer care in India. Telemedicine is just one of the ways for omnipresence. Patients can obtain advice from professionals dealing with cancer without travelling long distances as they can get video consultations. This is particularly useful for follow-up care and managing side effects during treatment.
Another promising technology is artificial intelligence (AI). AI has an ability to detect cancers at their early stages by analysing medical images with more precision than human beings. Furthermore, it can help tailor treatment plans to suit each patient’s unique type of cancer plus genetics.
The mobile health apps can also raise awareness, remind people about screenings and assist patients with their treatment schedules as well as side effects management. There is a great number of people these apps can reach because of high penetration of smartphones across India.
The Need for a Comprehensive Cancer Control Program:
To deal with cancer problems effectively, India requires a detailed national cancer control program. This should encompass various aspects ranging from preventing and detecting early tumors to treatment methods, including therapy sessions, surgeries, or chemotherapy, among others, and considering palliative assistance.
Such a program could include initiatives like:
- Setting up more cancer screening centers across the country
- Training more healthcare workers in cancer detection and care
- Implementing stricter tobacco control measures
- Improving access to pain relief medications for cancer patients
- Providing financial support for cancer treatment
To sum up, an objective like this can be attempted through some of the existing government efforts known as National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). All the same, more effort and regular IT intensive marketing campaigns are required.
The Importance of Palliative Care
Apart from, and because cancer treatments may cause suffering to patients as well as their caregivers in terms of pain management or psychological support; it has been suggested that some attention should be directed towards improving palliative care within Indian society at large specifically grass-roots levels. Cancer palliative care alleviates the intensity of symptoms along with relief from a serious illness such as cancer to enhance the quality of life for the ill person and for his or her family.
The above-mentioned mode of care is not readily available in India. Recent research says that about one in every hundred people in India has access to palliative care. As such, a lot of cancer patients who are diagnosed with terminal stage cancer continue suffering from pain and other debilitating symptoms.
To enhance palliative care, more medical professionals should be trained in this specialty area and it should be made easy to access pain relieving drugs and also there should be an attitudinal change regarding life.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
It is unfortunate that the rate of cancer cases has risen tremendously in India. However, there is great hope if we strategize and implement proper tactics. This means the input of several initiatives, including the government’s responsibility towards health sector leaders, researchers, and non-professionals.
Everyone must contribute to combating cancer. By adopting healthier lifestyles, undergoing routine checkups, and alerting others about cancer, we may lighten the burden of cancer in our country, India.
The way ahead is long and hard, but reaching the goal is worth the effort. Improved cancer care saves lives, reduces suffering, and makes people healthier. It is time for India to refocus on cancer care. Millions of lives and well-being depend on this.