Early detection key to combat cancer in women: Experts

Chennai: The number of people in India developing cancers is on the rise (493,140 in 1985 versus 1,147,000 in 2015), and women constitute
more than half the number.

In a bid to find a solution to the rise of cancer among women, leading cancer specialists from National Cancer Institute (NCI) USA, Apollo Hospitals and Adyar Cancer Institute came together to share their insights on cancer prevention at a symposium on women’s oncology on Monday.

Apollo Hospitals in association with NCI, USA, aims to take the fight of cancer in women to the next level by educating faculty members and the general public on newer treatments, vaccinations and screening processes.

The symposium had discussions on ways to prevent, manage and conquer cancer. With the risk of cancer occurring among one in every 10 women, the need for early detection has become the need of the hour.

“The main cause for the rise in cancer rates is late detection,” said Dr V. Shanta, chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute.

A panel discussion, titled ‘Marga’, was also held, featuring eight inspiring women achievers interacting on the need for a healthy living.

The panel that consisted of writers, dancers, musicians and others spoke on the need for women to spend some time on themselves, focusing on exercising and meditating so as to ensure living a healthy life. Well-known dancer Alarmel Valli stressed on the need for women to get out of the ‘being busy’ addiction.

“It is important that we switch off our mobile data for some time each day,” said edutainer Madhuvanthi Arun.

The symposium had oncologists from India and abroad networking and exchanging information on breast cancer research, new treatment methods, inherited cancer risk in women and risk management, overview of breast cancer in India.

Discussion included a road map towards women’s oncology care in India. Health secretary Dr J. Radhakrishnan spoke on the importance of hospitals working together to reduce cancer deaths in Tamil Nadu.