News Analysis India

Tag: Cancer

  • India sees rise in cancer deaths in 2022, UP tops list followed by Maharashtra

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The number of cancer deaths in India rose to over 8 lakh in 2022, the Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday. Uttar Pradesh alone reported over 1 lakh deaths, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar.

    In 2022, 14,61,427 cancer cases were registered, as compared to 14,26,447 in 2021. In 2020, the figure was 13,92,179. The state that reported the highest number of cancer cases was Uttar Pradesh in 2022. UP reported over 2 lakh cases, followed by Maharashtra at 1,21,717.

    The other states that reported a high number of cancer cases were West Bengal (113581), Bihar (109274), and Tamil Nadu (93,536).

    In 2022, 8,08,558 cancer deaths were recorded, while in 2021, the figure was 7,89,202. In 2020, it was 7,70,230.

    After UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cancer deaths.

    ALSO READ | More women dying of cancer compared to men: Study

    The southern state recorded over 50,000 cancer deaths in 2022. It is followed by Karnataka (49,516), Madhya Pradesh (45,176), Rajasthan (41,167), Gujarat (40,346), Andhra Pradesh (40,307), and Kerala (32,271).

    In a written reply, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Prof. S P Singh Baghel said, cancer is diagnosed and treated at various levels in health care facilities. “The treatment in government hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy.”

    Treatment of cancers is also available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the state governments.

    Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions, with an objective to make available cancer drugs at a substantial discount vis-à-vis the maximum retail price.

    NEW DELHI: The number of cancer deaths in India rose to over 8 lakh in 2022, the Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday. Uttar Pradesh alone reported over 1 lakh deaths, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar.

    In 2022, 14,61,427 cancer cases were registered, as compared to 14,26,447 in 2021. In 2020, the figure was 13,92,179. The state that reported the highest number of cancer cases was Uttar Pradesh in 2022. UP reported over 2 lakh cases, followed by Maharashtra at 1,21,717.

    The other states that reported a high number of cancer cases were West Bengal (113581), Bihar (109274), and Tamil Nadu (93,536).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In 2022, 8,08,558 cancer deaths were recorded, while in 2021, the figure was 7,89,202. In 2020, it was 7,70,230.

    After UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cancer deaths.

    ALSO READ | More women dying of cancer compared to men: Study

    The southern state recorded over 50,000 cancer deaths in 2022. It is followed by Karnataka (49,516), Madhya Pradesh (45,176), Rajasthan (41,167), Gujarat (40,346), Andhra Pradesh (40,307), and Kerala (32,271).

    In a written reply, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Prof. S P Singh Baghel said, cancer is diagnosed and treated at various levels in health care facilities. “The treatment in government hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy.”

    Treatment of cancers is also available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the state governments.

    Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions, with an objective to make available cancer drugs at a substantial discount vis-à-vis the maximum retail price.

  • More women dying of cancer compared to men: Study

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: More women are dying of cancer as compared to men in the last 19 years in India, the latest study has found.

    The first national-level cancer mortality study found that the cancer mortality trend in India has dipped by 0.19% annually among men but has increased by 0.25% among women, indicating an increase of 0.02% among both sexes.

    The analysis of mortality trends of 23 major cancers in the Indian population, which killed 12.85 million Indians between 2000 and 2019, found that the highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes at 2.7% (2.1% among men and 3.7% in women).

    The study, conducted by Amrita Hospital, Kochi, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was published in JCO Global Oncology, a journal affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

    The study found increasing mortality trends among cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and mesothelioma between 2000 and 2019. 

    However, the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, and melanoma cancers showed a declining cancer mortality trend irrespective of sex.

    The cancer mortality was high among men than women for all common cancers except thyroid (0.6) and gallbladder (0.6) cancers. 

    Larynx cancer had almost a six-fold high mortality among men than women, followed by lung (2.9), melanoma (2.5), urinary bladder (2.3), mouth and oropharynx (2.2), and liver (1.9), while stomach and colorectal cancer mortality was relatively similar among both sexes.

    The most common lethal cancers were mouth and oropharyngeal (15.6%), stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers.

    Female cancers of the cervix, corpus uteri, ovary, and breast contributed to 17.6% of deaths, while male cancers of the prostate and testis contributed to only 3.7%, the study said.

    “This estimation-based study might be a substitute for constructing precise and efficient health care infrastructure to acquire better cancer control programs in India in the absence of a national cancer registry or countrywide cancer mortality data,” Ajil Shaji, Head of Cancer Registry at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and one of the authors, said.

    Dr Vijaykumar DK, Head of Dept. Breast and Gynec Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: “We wanted to investigate how the number of cancer-related fatalities has changed in India over the past two decades. The study has shown that the cancer mortality trend among men in India has shown a slight yet statistically significant decrease over time.” 

    “In contrast, the increase in cancer mortality among women and both sexes combined has been minor and not statistically significant. Among all common malignancies, women had a higher rate of gallbladder and thyroid cancer mortality than men; meanwhile, a yearly significant increase of pancreatic cancer mortality was seen among both sexes, with a higher increase in women.”

    Dr Pavithran K, Head of Dept. Medical Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: ‘The study highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to address the rising cancer mortality rates in India, including awareness on cancer symptoms, cancer prevention policies, improved health infrastructure, and specifically dedicated human resources.”

    A multi-faceted strategy is required to tackle India’s rising cancer mortality rates.

    “Lack of knowledge about cancer symptoms delays treatment for preventable cancers. We need better infrastructure, dedicated human resources, and expanded cancer screening programs. The best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness of cancer symptoms among the population and cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated resources,” he said.

    Globally, cancer is the second most lethal non-communicable disease after cardiovascular disease, accounting for about 9.9 million deaths in 2020. 

    Around 9% of all cancer deaths occurred in the Indian population. 

    While cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, ovary, and mesothelioma showed substantial increases in mortality in India, the cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, liver, brain, testis, prostate, cervix, corpus uteri, and melanoma decreased over time.

    “In India, more than 70% of cases of cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages because of decreased cancer awareness and lack of organized breast, oral, or cervical cancer screening programs. This fact explains the high cancer mortality rate,” the study said.

    It added that prevention through screening and awareness could reduce the burden of preventable cancers worldwide and in India since more than 30% of cancer deaths are due to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use.

    NEW DELHI: More women are dying of cancer as compared to men in the last 19 years in India, the latest study has found.

    The first national-level cancer mortality study found that the cancer mortality trend in India has dipped by 0.19% annually among men but has increased by 0.25% among women, indicating an increase of 0.02% among both sexes.

    The analysis of mortality trends of 23 major cancers in the Indian population, which killed 12.85 million Indians between 2000 and 2019, found that the highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes at 2.7% (2.1% among men and 3.7% in women).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The study, conducted by Amrita Hospital, Kochi, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was published in JCO Global Oncology, a journal affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

    The study found increasing mortality trends among cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and mesothelioma between 2000 and 2019. 

    However, the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, and melanoma cancers showed a declining cancer mortality trend irrespective of sex.

    The cancer mortality was high among men than women for all common cancers except thyroid (0.6) and gallbladder (0.6) cancers. 

    Larynx cancer had almost a six-fold high mortality among men than women, followed by lung (2.9), melanoma (2.5), urinary bladder (2.3), mouth and oropharynx (2.2), and liver (1.9), while stomach and colorectal cancer mortality was relatively similar among both sexes.

    The most common lethal cancers were mouth and oropharyngeal (15.6%), stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers.

    Female cancers of the cervix, corpus uteri, ovary, and breast contributed to 17.6% of deaths, while male cancers of the prostate and testis contributed to only 3.7%, the study said.

    “This estimation-based study might be a substitute for constructing precise and efficient health care infrastructure to acquire better cancer control programs in India in the absence of a national cancer registry or countrywide cancer mortality data,” Ajil Shaji, Head of Cancer Registry at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and one of the authors, said.

    Dr Vijaykumar DK, Head of Dept. Breast and Gynec Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: “We wanted to investigate how the number of cancer-related fatalities has changed in India over the past two decades. The study has shown that the cancer mortality trend among men in India has shown a slight yet statistically significant decrease over time.” 

    “In contrast, the increase in cancer mortality among women and both sexes combined has been minor and not statistically significant. Among all common malignancies, women had a higher rate of gallbladder and thyroid cancer mortality than men; meanwhile, a yearly significant increase of pancreatic cancer mortality was seen among both sexes, with a higher increase in women.”

    Dr Pavithran K, Head of Dept. Medical Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: ‘The study highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to address the rising cancer mortality rates in India, including awareness on cancer symptoms, cancer prevention policies, improved health infrastructure, and specifically dedicated human resources.”

    A multi-faceted strategy is required to tackle India’s rising cancer mortality rates.

    “Lack of knowledge about cancer symptoms delays treatment for preventable cancers. We need better infrastructure, dedicated human resources, and expanded cancer screening programs. The best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness of cancer symptoms among the population and cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated resources,” he said.

    Globally, cancer is the second most lethal non-communicable disease after cardiovascular disease, accounting for about 9.9 million deaths in 2020. 

    Around 9% of all cancer deaths occurred in the Indian population. 

    While cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, ovary, and mesothelioma showed substantial increases in mortality in India, the cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, liver, brain, testis, prostate, cervix, corpus uteri, and melanoma decreased over time.

    “In India, more than 70% of cases of cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages because of decreased cancer awareness and lack of organized breast, oral, or cervical cancer screening programs. This fact explains the high cancer mortality rate,” the study said.

    It added that prevention through screening and awareness could reduce the burden of preventable cancers worldwide and in India since more than 30% of cancer deaths are due to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use.

  • Cormac Roth, musician and actor Tim Roth’s son, dies at 25

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Cormac Roth, a musician and son of actor Tim Roth, has died at 25 after a battle with cancer, the family announced Monday.

    Roth “died peacefully in the arms of his family who loved and adored him” on October 16, the family said in a statement, adding that “he maintained his wicked wit and humor” to the end.

    “The grief comes in waves, as do the tears and laughter, when we think of that beautiful boy across the 25 years and 10 months that we knew him,” the family said. “An irrepressible and joyful and wild and wonderful child. Only recently a man. We love him. We will carry him with us wherever we go.”

    A graduate of Bennington College, Roth was a guitarist, composer and producer. He revealed on his Instagram account that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 germ cell cancer in November 2021.

    “It has taken away half of my hearing, 60 pounds of weight, my confidence, and will continue its murderous path until I can manage to stop it some how, and kill it,” he wrote. “But it hasn’t taken away my will to survive, or my love of making music. It hasn’t taken me down yet.”

    He urged everyone to see their doctors.

    His father is the star of such films as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “The Incredible Hulk.”

    Cormac Roth is survived by his parents, Tim and Nikki Roth, and his brother, Hunter Roth.

    LOS ANGELES: Cormac Roth, a musician and son of actor Tim Roth, has died at 25 after a battle with cancer, the family announced Monday.

    Roth “died peacefully in the arms of his family who loved and adored him” on October 16, the family said in a statement, adding that “he maintained his wicked wit and humor” to the end.

    “The grief comes in waves, as do the tears and laughter, when we think of that beautiful boy across the 25 years and 10 months that we knew him,” the family said. “An irrepressible and joyful and wild and wonderful child. Only recently a man. We love him. We will carry him with us wherever we go.”

    A graduate of Bennington College, Roth was a guitarist, composer and producer. He revealed on his Instagram account that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 germ cell cancer in November 2021.

    “It has taken away half of my hearing, 60 pounds of weight, my confidence, and will continue its murderous path until I can manage to stop it some how, and kill it,” he wrote. “But it hasn’t taken away my will to survive, or my love of making music. It hasn’t taken me down yet.”

    He urged everyone to see their doctors.

    His father is the star of such films as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “The Incredible Hulk.”

    Cormac Roth is survived by his parents, Tim and Nikki Roth, and his brother, Hunter Roth.

  • SC raps ED for seeking cancellation of bail of accused suffering from cancer

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rapped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for filing a plea seeking cancellation of bail of an accused suffering from cancer, saying it should not have wasted “stationery, legal fees and the court’s time”.

    The man, an employee of a private bank, was arrested in connection with an embezzlement case of Rs 24 crore.

    A bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh to be borne by the officer concerned, who granted the permission to file the Special Leave Petition.

    “The Department ought not to have filed such a Special Leave Petition wasting the stationery, the legal fees and Court’s time.”

    The Special Leave Petition stands dismissed with exemplary cost, to be borne by the concerned officer, who granted the permission to file the Special Leave Petition, quantified at Rs 1,00,000, to be recovered from the salary of such an officer.

    “The cost to be deposited by the Department with the Registry of this Court within a period of four weeks from today. On such deposit, Rs.50,000/- be transferred to National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi and Rs.50,000/- to Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee, Supreme Court,” the bench said.

    The agency had moved the top court against the November 12, 2021 order of the Allahabad High Court which had granted bail to the man, noting that he is suffering from malignancy.

    The high court had requested the doctor concerned of the Kamla Nehru Hospital, Prayagraj to scan the applicant and submit a report on his health condition and the stage of cancer.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rapped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for filing a plea seeking cancellation of bail of an accused suffering from cancer, saying it should not have wasted “stationery, legal fees and the court’s time”.

    The man, an employee of a private bank, was arrested in connection with an embezzlement case of Rs 24 crore.

    A bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh to be borne by the officer concerned, who granted the permission to file the Special Leave Petition.

    “The Department ought not to have filed such a Special Leave Petition wasting the stationery, the legal fees and Court’s time.”

    The Special Leave Petition stands dismissed with exemplary cost, to be borne by the concerned officer, who granted the permission to file the Special Leave Petition, quantified at Rs 1,00,000, to be recovered from the salary of such an officer.

    “The cost to be deposited by the Department with the Registry of this Court within a period of four weeks from today. On such deposit, Rs.50,000/- be transferred to National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi and Rs.50,000/- to Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee, Supreme Court,” the bench said.

    The agency had moved the top court against the November 12, 2021 order of the Allahabad High Court which had granted bail to the man, noting that he is suffering from malignancy.

    The high court had requested the doctor concerned of the Kamla Nehru Hospital, Prayagraj to scan the applicant and submit a report on his health condition and the stage of cancer.

  • Jane Fonda says she has cancer, is dealing well with chemo

    By Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: Jane Fonda said on social media Friday that she has cancer.

    “So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share. I’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments,” the 84-year-old actor wrote in an Instagram post.

    “This is a very treatable cancer,” she added, “so I feel very lucky.”

    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells and affects parts of the body’s immune system. Fonda acknowledged that unlike many, she is privileged to have insurance, and access to the best doctors and care.

    “Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving and this is not right,” she said.

    Fonda said she has begun a six-month course of chemotherapy, is handling the treatments well, and will not let it interfere with her climate activism.

    Fonda has dealt with cancer before. She had a tumor removed from her breast in 2010, and has also had skin cancer.

    Part of a legendary Hollywood family, Fonda gained fame for both her acting and her activism starting in the late 1960s. She won Oscars for her performances in 1971’s “Klute” and 1978’s “Coming Home.” She has also starred in the films “Barbarella” and “9 to 5,” and in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”

    LOS ANGELES: Jane Fonda said on social media Friday that she has cancer.

    “So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share. I’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments,” the 84-year-old actor wrote in an Instagram post.

    “This is a very treatable cancer,” she added, “so I feel very lucky.”

    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells and affects parts of the body’s immune system. Fonda acknowledged that unlike many, she is privileged to have insurance, and access to the best doctors and care.

    “Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving and this is not right,” she said.

    Fonda said she has begun a six-month course of chemotherapy, is handling the treatments well, and will not let it interfere with her climate activism.

    Fonda has dealt with cancer before. She had a tumor removed from her breast in 2010, and has also had skin cancer.

    Part of a legendary Hollywood family, Fonda gained fame for both her acting and her activism starting in the late 1960s. She won Oscars for her performances in 1971’s “Klute” and 1978’s “Coming Home.” She has also starred in the films “Barbarella” and “9 to 5,” and in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”

  • Cancer vanishes from every patient’s body in drug trial for the first time ever

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: In what appears to be a miracle and ‘first time in history’, a small clinical trial has found that every single rectal cancer patient who received an experimental treatment found that their cancer had vanished.

    According to New York Times, in the small clinical trial conducted by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 18 patients took a drug called Dostarlimab for around six months, and in the end, every one of them saw their tumours disappear.

    Dr Luis A. Diaz J. of New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said this was “the first time this has happened in the history of cancer.”

    According to experts, Dostarlimab is a drug with laboratory-produced molecules and it acts as substitute antibodies in the human body.

    The cancer is undetectable by physical exam; endoscopy; positron emission tomography or PET scans or MRI scans, added Experts. This proves that Dostarlimab can be a ‘potential’ cure for one of the most deadly common cancers.

    According to New York Times, patients involved in the clinical trial earlier underwent treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgery that could result in bowel, urinary, and even sexual dysfunction. The 18 patients went into the trial expecting to have to go through these procedures as the next step. However, to their surprise, no further treatment was needed.

    The findings of this trial have shocked experts and they have pointed out that complete remission in every single patient is “unheard-of”.

    Dr Alan P. Venook, who is a colorectal cancer specialist at the University of California, said that the complete remission in every single patient is “unheard-of”. He hailed the research as a “world-first”.

    Experts stated that the research was impressive as not all of the patients suffered significant complications from the drug trial.

    “There were a lot of happy tears,” said Oncologist Dr Andrea Cercek, describing the moment patients found out they were cancer-free as quoted by New York Times.

    According to doctors, the patients, during the trial, took Dostarlimab every three weeks for six months. “It is noteworthy that they were all in similar stages of their cancer. The cancer was locally advanced in the rectum but had not spread to other organs,” added doctors.

    “At the time of this report, no patients had received chemoradiotherapy or undergone surgery, and no cases of progression or recurrence had been reported during follow-up,’ researchers wrote in the study published in the media outlet.

    Cancer researchers who reviewed the drug told the media outlet that the treatment looks promising, but a larger-scale trial is needed.

  • Premature babies, kids with ailments prone to have high BP

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Hypertension is not just a medical condition faced by adults. Children as young as one year are getting high blood pressure in India, primarily those who are prematurely born, suffering from cardiac abnormalities, kidney diseases, and cancer. 

    What is needed is a massive awareness among parents and paediatricians about its grave repercussions, if not diagnosed in time, said experts and doctors. 

    According to Dr Sumita Saha, consultant pediatric and neonatology, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, Kolkata, it is believed that hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition that generally impacts people in their 40s and 50s.  However, in recent times very young children are getting hypertension, mostly those with underlying diseases. 

    “This is a grave medical issue, as many parents are unaware that children can get affected by hypertension, which leads to delay in the prognosis, misdiagnosis, and adverse outcomes that can affect the child’s overall well-being,” she told this newspaper.

    She said children above the age of three should have their blood pressure checked every year if they were born before 32 weeks of pregnancy and weighs less than 1800 grams at birth, have cardiac abnormalities during childbirth, have recurring UTI or other kidney conditions, family history of any kidney disease, undergone organ transplants, or suffering from cancer.

    As per the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines, four per cent of kids aged 12 to 19 years have hypertension, and ten per cent have pre-hypertension. Dr Remesh Kumar R, president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, based in Cochin, said in the general population, the prevalence would be less than one per cent in children below 18 years.

    “Hypertension among children is a concern, but it is not a priority in India,” he said, adding that he has seen a child as young as six months old detected with hypertension.

    What is of concern is hypertension among children who have no “underlying cause,” said Dr Nameet Jerath, senior consultant, Pediatric Pulmonology and Critical Care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

    Dr Manish Mannan, Head of Department, Pediatrics and Neonatology, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, also said that in some adolescents who are obese and have a poor lifestyle, hypertension had been observed.  Both said there are medicines, but lifestyle changes, weight control and physical exercise could be controlled among children.

    Blood pressure reading for pediatric age groups varies according to age and height. Only paediatricians would be able to interpret the correct reading for that particular age and height. “By definition, any child reading more than 95th centile for his age would be categorised as hypertensive,” said Mannan. Saha said what is of utmost importance is awareness among children, parents and even paediatricians. 

    “Many clinics and hospital OPDs even lack a blood pressure machine and different sizes of blood pressure cuffs and blood pressure charts for children. The need of the hour is to create awareness about this condition so that it does not become a significant health crisis in the future.” 

  • Uttarakhand records rise in cancer cases

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has registered an increase in cancer patients with a rate of 4-5% in the last 3-years revealed the data of cancer patients from the year 2018-2020, revealed the data shared by the central government in the Parliament recently. 

    In the year 2018 total of 10,932 cases were detected followed by 11216 in the year 2019 and 11482 in the year 2020. 

    Professor Daulat Singh Kunwar, head of the oncology department of Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun said, “Maximum cases are of mouth cancer induced by soling and allied habits. In women, the majority of cases are of breast cancer and gall bladder. Changes in lifestyle, sedentary habits, unhealthy consumption of alcohol and adulteration of chemicals have led to the rise in the number of cases in the state.” 

    The hill state has managed to rank second among Indian Himalayan states and union territories in the duration from the year 2018 to 2020. 

    The number of deaths due to cancer was 6028 in Uttarakhand which increased to 6184 in 2019 and 6337 in the year 2020. 

    Among Indian Himalayan states/union territories, the maximum number of cases were detected in Assam with 36039 in the year 2018, 36948 in the year 2019 and 37880 in the year 2020. 

    Jammu & Kashmir with 12071 in the year 2018, 12396 in the year 2019 and 12726 in the year 2020 ranks third. 

    In the year 2020, a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee found that a certain glycoprotein can hinder the growth of cancer-inducing cells while directly inhibiting the proliferation of tumour-associated macrophages. 

    This study uses various in vitro systems and an animal breast tumour model to highlight that Fbln7-C could help the macrophages to resist the reprogramming process and delay the conversion of anti-tumorigenic to pro-tumorigenic TAMs, while directly inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. 

    The study reveals that this ingredient can regulate the inflammatory functions of human neutrophils, (cell type that works as the first line of defence of our immune system) and administration of Fbln7-C (content of the said glycoprotein) could improve survival in animals injected with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell wall content of gram-negative bacteria

  • Northeast becoming cancer capital of India with highest new cases: ICMR and NCDIR report

    By PTI

    ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district and Aizawl in Mizoram recorded the highest incidence of new cancer cases in the country among females and males respectively, as per a government report.

    The report, released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), stated that Papumpare district has 219.8 per one lakh cancer cases among females.

    Mizoram’s capital Aizawl has 269.4 per one lakh cases among males, it said.

    Northeast India is the cancer capital of the country with the highest age-adjusted cancer incidence rates of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the country, said Dr Kaling Jerang, the principal investigator of Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) at Bakin Pertin General Hospital (BPGH) in Pasighat.

    The PBCR project under the ICMR-NCDIR, Bengaluru, has been studying the cancer trends under the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), he said on Tuesday. He hoped that the cancer data revealed by the project will be used by the government in policy-making decisions regarding cancer prevention, treatment and management.

  • Allahabad High Court orders free treatment to poor woman suffering from cancer

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has asked Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University to provide free medical treatment to a woman suffering from cancer but is unable to afford it due to poverty.

    Acting on a plea by an unemployed youth, a Lucknow bench of the high court also asked Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya Institute of Medical Sciences and SGPGIMS to coordinate with the KGMU in her treatment.

    While ordering for free treatment to the woman, the Lucknow bench of justices D K Upadhyaya and Manish Kumar also directed the KGMU’s chief superintendent to apprise the court of the details of treatment being provided to the woman by March 24.

    The bench gave the orders on a plea by unemployed youth Sauhard Lakhanpal, the son of a freelance journalist.

    Lakhanpal had moved the court in person to plead his case personally after his mother, a housewife, was diagnosed suffering from cancer by the KGMU in April 2020.

    The court, however, later appointed advocate Murli Manohar Srivastava as an amicus curiae to plead the youth’s case properly in the court.

    Srivastava told the bench that the petitioner’s father was a freelance journalist and his ailing mother was a housewife and the petitioner himself was unemployed and their total yearly income was negligible.

    “In such circumstances, the petitioner is faced with a gigantic task of treatment of his mother,” Srivastava said.

    The bench was also informed that the petitioner was granted Rs 75,000 from the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Fund for the treatment of his mother but the sum was not sufficient.

    During the hearing, state government counsel Anupras Singh told the bench that the state government has already formulated a scheme for free treatment to those suffering from incurable diseases like cancer, heart ailments and liver and kidney problems.

    Accordingly, the petitioner may be allowed the benefit of the scheme, said Singh.

    Considering overall facts and circumstances, the bench directed that the petitioner’s mother be admitted to the Surgical Oncology Department of KGMU within three days and her treatment be started forthwith.