Cancer awareness is ncessary

February 4 is observed as World Cancer Day. It’s estimated that 14 million people die of cancer globally and there is an increase of 90 per cent deaths annually. Cancer is not only a health issue but it has a wide reaching social economic and human rights implications.

The mutation in hormones, excessive usage of tobacco, increase in the usage of pesticides are some of the reasons cited for cancer. Increase in physical activities, choosing a healthy lifestyle, periodic check-ups will prevent cancer. Early detection is most important in this disease. Compulsory periodic check ups like mammogram after the after the age of 35 for all women and periodic medical check ups for men can also help detect this disease early so that it can be controlled.

Now, some cancers are curable and once it affects a person, periodic treatment, care and follow up should be given. Even now some people in India have superstitious believes that it is not curable and the patient should not be informed about the disease. Government and Non-governmental organisations should conduct mass awareness campaigns to educate the people about cancer. Once a patient is cured, rehabilitation should be done to bring the person back to normal life.

We all should try to create an awareness within our own families to urge them for a medical check up for early detection.

Losing a loved one to cancer is painful. Together we all can fight this deadly disease.

- The reader is a logistics manager, based in Dubai.