Indian scenario

The figures given by Indian Cancer Society state that about 1.5 million people suffer from cancer at any given point of time in India
Oral cancer and cervix cancer account for the major causes of cancer in this country

Cancer situation in India

Approx. 500,000 new cases of cancer occur every year in India
As the human life span is increasing in India, more cases of cancer are observed here also
Cancer is thus regarded as an emerging health problem in India
According to Dr. D J Jussawalla, Indian Cancer Society, “Cancer is one of the 10 leading causes of death today in India, and is advancing in rank year by year”

Cancer situation in the World

Cancer is the second common cause of death in the developed countries next to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease
In Europe and North America, approx. 1-5 die of cancer
According to WHO, out of an estimated total of 50 million are attributed cancer, and the number of deaths from cancer throughout the world is increasing

Cancer in older people

Small microscopic cancers of the prostate were very common in males
Lung and stomach cancer were seen in many cases both in males and females
Lung cancer of the type of adenocarcinoma, was found often and was commoner in females than males
Multiple cancers arising in different organs at the same time was not an uncommon feature
Lesions regarded as precursors to cancers were often observed in stomach, colon and lungs
The rate of growth of cancers in general was slow

Cancer on older people

Cancer occurs more often in people after 50 or 60 years of age
In still older people, i.e. 80 years or above, some characteristics of cancer have been noted during life and in post-mortem studies of people who have died of causes other than cancers.

Any manifestation may be cancer…

A lump or hard area in the breast
A change in a wart or mole
A persistent change in digestive and bowel habits, e.g. constipation
A persistent cough or hoarseness in a smoker
Bleeding of vagina at times other than the menstrual
Non-injury bleeding from the surface of skin, mouth of any other bodily orifice
Any ulcer that does not get well
Unexplained loss of weight
Unexplained diminished or lost appetite
Unexplained low-grade fever

Signs and symptoms

Cancers of various types and at various sites manifest themselves in a variety of ways
On external surface, any thickening of the tissues, formation of nodule or tumor, persisting sores and ulcers, can be feature of cancer
Internal cancers may grow for some time before they cause any symptom. But weight loss, anaemia and low-grade fever in older people even without any other symptom, should arouse suspicion

Support sciences

It was found that genes useful for cancer class prediction may also provide insights into cancer pathogenesis and pharmacology
The National Cancer Institute in USA maintains a project called Human Tumor Gene Index. More than 50,000 genes active in one or more cancers have been identified; with over 6,000 genes active in breast cancer cells, 277 that are not active in other tissues

Support sciences

Interpretation of tumor data would involve an experienced hematophothologist for tumor morphology, histochemistry and immunophenotyping analysis
Histopathology is the science that studies pathologic tissues. Just as in the case of all other branches of biological sciences, bioinformatics is poised to bring monumental changes to this branch as well. It is expected that it would also greatly influence the cancer pathogenesis and pharmacology

Fighting cancer

Fighting cancer is not just hoping to discover a “magic bullet” to annihilate it
It is much broader a problem
Early detection
Curative measures
Rehabilitation of the patients
Psychological problems faced by the patient and relatives