Authors
Paul Augustinea
a Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Center, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Abstract
Background: Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with an estimated 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths in 2012, projected to rise by 75% in two decades. Developing countries, including India, face suboptimal cure rates (35-50% compared to a desired 70-80%), often leading to cancer being perceived as a death sentence.
Challenges: The article identifies key issues: a lack of emphasis on proper management, insufficient education for health providers, over-reliance on certain diagnostic methods (e.g., mammograms) over clinical examination, and hasty surgeries performed by untrained personnel. Other concerns include the absence of legislation against tobacco (a cause of 40% of cancers) and the limited absolute benefit (2-12%) of adjuvant therapies.
Recommendations: Strategies for improvement include prioritizing prevention, early detection, and proper management. There is a call to educate health providers, train community health workers (one per panchayath) to conduct health education and clinical examinations for four common cancers (oral cavity, breast, uterine cervix, colorectal), and ensure proper referral to certified cancer care teams. Emphasizing skilled surgical treatment for solid tumors and implementing structured health education, screening programs, and treatment guidelines are crucial.
Conclusion: Addressing cancer effectively in developing nations requires political commitment, improved knowledge, a shift in attitude, and optimal utilization of existing facilities and personnel. Prevention and early detection, facilitated by trained individuals and proper surgical management, are paramount over costly and less effective modalities.