chat icon

WhatsApp Expert

Book Free Consult

Stage 4 Cancer Survivors in India

Stage 4 Cancer Survivors in India

Cancer has emerged as a significant health concern in India. According to a new report, cases related to cancer in India have increased at an average annual rate of 1.1 to 2 per cent. Deaths from cancer in India have also gone up at an average rate of 0.1 to 1 per cent. Every year, 2.2 million deaths from cancer are from India; in comparison to the global figure of 8.8 million.

Survival rates in India are pretty low for most types of cancer as there is a lack of awareness. The situation is worst in rural India. Here, at least 70-80 per cent of patients do not even approach hospitals at the end-stage.

Low survival rates in India

The main reason for the poor survival rate is that diagnosis is always late, which delays the treatment. There is a lack of awareness among people, poor treatment facilities in rural India, food habits, and ignorance among the masses about cancer. Prostate cancer among men is the second most common cancer in India. This does not have any side-effects. Hence, patients consult at the terminal stage.

In many cancer cases, people in their late 50s and 60s do not approach hospitals; despite suffering from prostate cancer for 7-8 years. The result is that cancer reaches at a higher stage, therefore becomes difficult to cure. The five most common types of cancer are; breast cancer, lung cancer, mouth cancer, cervix cancer, uteri cancer and tongue cancer.  According to doctors, only 30 per cent of the cases can be cured at advanced stages. However, there is always a chance of relapse. So, the best way to get cancer cure is early prevention and early treatment.

Insufficient knowledge and inadequate infrastructure

Those who approach the first stage of cancer most often have an 85 per cent chance of cure, there is a 60 per cent chance of cure in stage 2, 30 per cent at stage 3, and those who start treatment at stage 4 will not have chances of survival for more than five years. Maximum number of patients approach the doctor only after they reach advanced stages. Cancers of the oral cavity, lungs and prostate in males, cervix and breast in females account for over 50 per cent of all cancer deaths in India.

The doctors said women should avail of cervical cancer screenings like Pap smear Test. This is a very cheap test which one can do at any hospital or nursing home.

According to the World Health Organisation, cancer diagnosis occurs in more than 14 million people worldwide and kills approximately 8.8 million. Around two-thirds of the deaths are in low-middle income countries where the diagnosis is inadequate and leads to treatment late. Doctors said certain types of blood cancer could be healed with specialized targeted therapy but should be detected at an early stage. Stage 4 cancer patients can live for more than seven years with it.

For adenocarcinoma, genetic mutation or similar abnormalities, a few other special techniques like laser or robotics are available. This helps the patient survive with the minor change in their quality of life, which helps increase the survival rate of prostate cancer or vocal cord cancer.

If cancer is detected early, it can be treated and a high chance of survival is there. One should be always aware of any unusual changes they notice in their bodies. People should not ignore this symptom because of the cost of the treatment.

Cancer prevention and treatment strategies for India

India is among the few developing countries that formulated a National Cancer Control Programme. The programme envisages control of tobacco-related cancers, early diagnosis of cancer, treatment of uterine cervical cancer, distribution of therapy services, ways to relieve pain and palliative care.

For cancer treatment, a multidisciplinary approach is essential at all regional cancer centres. A trained surgeon and a clinical oncologist are a must for most appropriate treatment. Long waiting lists for treatment, the distance that patients have to travel to reach treatment facilities must be in mind before making any strategy. Recognition for patients for palliative and curative treatment need to be there at the beginning of the treatment plan. Furthermore, a doctor needs to prepare an essential drug list needs for treatment. Chemotherapy services for common cancers must be available in all centres.

Advanced facilities for high-intensity chemotherapy for leukaemia and other cancers where chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment need to be provided at the Regional Cancer Centres. More than 75% of cancers patients are in advanced stages in India. For these patients, palliative care and pain relief are essential to provide good quality of life. Oral Morphine is the most important medicine for cancer pain management, and this needs to be available at all centres. The medical doctors and administrators have to be sensitised and educated about the use of Oral Morphine. The regulations have to be made simple to make this essential drug available to the cancer patients easily.

Related Articles
If you haven't found what you were looking for, we're here to help. Contact ZenOnco.io at [email protected] or call +91 99 3070 9000 for anything you might need.