Making early Cancer diagnosis a reality

WHO South-Asia highlights key interventions on World Cancer Day

  New Delhi, February 4 (MExN): Cancer is diagnosed in more than 14 million people worldwide each year, killing approximately 8.8 million. Around two-thirds of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries, where cancer detection is often inadequate and diagnosis and treatment late.   On World Cancer Day (February 4), “we must focus on reducing cancer’s impact, both in terms of mortality and cost. We must focus on making early diagnosis a reality,” stated the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region office in a press release today.   Cancer deaths In the South-East Asia Region, cancer kills around 1.3 million people every year.   As per the Population Based Cancer Registry three years’ report (2009 to 2011), the highest incidence of many cancers are located in India’s North East Region. In Nagaland, the incidence rate is 98.15 per 1,00,000 population (males:126.1, females: 70.2).   Across the South-East Asia Region, late diagnosis and treatment is resulting in 67% of cancer patients dying before they are 70, equating to just under 900 000 premature deaths annually, reported the WHO.   “Late diagnosis and treatment is also inflating associated costs and impacting workforce productivity. With cancer rates expected to rise in coming years, the need to take action is clear,” stated a WHO press note.   Important steps towards better cancer detection have already been taken through the ‘Cancer Prevention and Control’ resolution adopted in Dili, Timor-Leste, in September 2015, by member states.   Interventions WHO’s new Guide to cancer early diagnosis outlines the Region’s Member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste) can make a few key interventions that will help diagnose cancer earlier and make treatment more efficient.   “These interventions will also help realize the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature deaths from cancers and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030,” the WHO hoped.