Cancer
Awareness and Early Detection Programmes at Rural/Urban Areas
Cancer
is a disease, which is equally wide spread among villagers as
in urban population. But it is more dangerous as the villagers
'reach' to the cancer surgeon or the cancer institute very late,
till then the disease becomes so advanced that even after total
treatment, which is expensive, the disease remains in the body
and ultimately 'kills the person in a short span'. The family
not only loose the person but the 'fortunes' of that family
are also lost in treating the person from the cancer and the
future of the children also becomes bleak.
The
cancer is not only a 'killer' disease in its late manifestation,
but also a huge social and economical problem.
How
can we deal with these 'Medico-Social' problems? The only way
seems are proper education and guidance about the health problems
and the way to deal with them.
Because
of lack of 'social activities' in the villages, those who are
retired from the fieldwork, easily slip into inactivity. Almost
70 - 80% male population seems to be addicted to smoking tobacco
and alcohol abuse. If a doctor advises them to kick these habits,
the villagers are not interested in following the guidance given
by the doctor. Their only interest is in taking 'symptomatic'
treatment for their ailments without wanting to understand that
these symptomatic drugs could cause them more harm than benefit,
in the long run.
Villagers
commonly suffer from Malnutrition, hazards of smoking alcohol,
and Drug overuse, which manifests 'largely' as 'chronic fatigability
syndrome', chronic dull aching abdominal pain and body ache,
constipation and physical and mental dullness, and diseases
like Tuberculosis, Anemia, skin diseases and mostly oral and
lung cancer.
Men
can be educated about the evils of smoking, tobacco chewing
and alcohol abuse with the help of posters and if possible with
'plays'.
Females
mostly suffer from 'Chronic fatigue ability Syndrome', iron
deficiency anaemia, leucorrhoea and menstrual disorders, for
which a general guidance regarding proper nutrition and haematanics
and regular Gynaec checkups can be conducted.
Importance
of drinking plenty of water and eating easily available nutritious
food, like pulses, fruits, green leafy vegetables and milk can
be stressed upon for dealing with malnutrition and dehydration.
To
prevent or to curb this problem, we as medical society, are
organising camps in the villages, to detect the signs of early
cancers, to educate people about the hazards of smoking, tobacco
chewing and alcohol abuse through various posters, pamphlets
and also encourage females to come for gynaec check ups. A cancer
detected in an early stage can be cured almost 90 - 100% and
the money spent on treating cancer is also considerably reduced,
hence saving not only the person suffering from cancer but the
whole family.
We
have started the Outreach programme in Ranga Reddy District
of Andhra Pradesh, India. Which has an average population of.
So far we could able to cover six mandals (Divisions of the
District).
