Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 4
Stomach, liver, lung and breast cancer have become very prevalent among the Nagas, mostly due to unhealthy lifestyle.
This was revealed by Dr V. Khamo, HoD, Pathology, Healthcare Laboratory & Research Centre, Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima during the observation of World Cancer Day here today under the theme “ I am, I will” on Monday.
With alcohol consumption very high among the Nagas, Dr. Khamo also revealed that many Nagas, including a lot of youth have been detected with liver cancer. Lung cancer is also increasing in the state due to smoking, alcohol and consuming a lot of tobacco, she said.
While tobacco in any form has been found as the major cause of cancer, Dr Khamo said alcohol consumed with tobacco regularly develops a higher risk of cancer.
“We need to change our food habit and lifestyle,” she therefore said.
Dr. Khamo pointed out that healthy food keeps the risk of developing cancer away, adding that it develops the body’s ability to fight infections and keeps the cells and tissues strong and increases the smooth functioning of the organs and systems.
“Proper nutrition helps a patient to be treatment tolerant and reconstruct the healthy cells that gets damaged along with the cancer cells during the treatment,” she also said.
Besides healthy food, physical exercises on daily basis keep the body and the immunity strong. It promotes the proper functioning of the organs and systems. It helps to control many pre cancer diseases and other health disorders that may bother the treatment, Dr Khamo further added.
While cancer was believed to untreatable two decades back, Dr Khamo said things have changed with medical science coming up with new inventions, medicines and a number of researches in progress.
She said cancer, if detected on time can be healed completely. Dr Khamo explained that cancer is divided into 4 stages bases on the size of the tumor. In the1st and IInd stages, cancer can be treated, in the IIIrd stage, the life of the patient can be extended but in the IVth stage, it becomes difficult to deal with the patient.
Dr Khamo therefore called for proper awareness of the disease which can lead to its early detection and proper and complete treatment can be taken. She said the whole world is uniting to raise awareness about cancer and work together to make it a global health priority.
Dr Thorhusie Katiry, Managing Director, NHAK said there are at least 2 to 3 cancer patients coming to Naga Hospital for treatment every week.
“However if the patient come on time, is diagnosed and investigated on time, cancer is curable," he said.
Unite to raise awareness on cancer prevention: Rio
On World Cancer Day, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to social media platform urging for all to unite towards raising awareness on prevention of the dreaded disease.
“On #WorldCancerDay let us unite to raise public awareness on prevention. Let us pledge #IamAndIWill promote healthy lifestyle, advocate for #CANCER #prevention & early detection,” Rio’s twitter handle read.
#Nagaland has a high rate of cancer. A Tertiary #cancercare Centre will soon be functional at Kohima, Rio’s message on twitter added.
