Cancer spreads its tentacles in Himachal

There has been a steady increase in the number of people suffering from various types of cancer in Himachal Pradesh. The majority of the cancer patients (over 400) undergoing treatment here belong to Shimla district. Sources at Regional Cancer Centre, Shimla, said nearly 1,400 patients from all over the state came to the centre for treatment, while the hospital does not have any data of patients diagnosed for cancer in other hospitals in Himachal or neighbouring states.

Patients from Kangra, Una and Solan district of Himachal Pradesh prefer treatment in Chandigarh or some hospitals in Ludhiana in Punjab.

"During the past five years, the number of cancer patients has gone up. In 1986, when the centre was opened, the incidence of patients was not so high," said Dr R.K. Seam, head, Regional Cancer Centre.
Dr Seam said incidences of cancer of lung and digestive system were on the rise. "Smoking appears to be the culprit for triggering lung cancer and high use of chemicals in crops and junk food probably sets off the cancer of the digestive system," he said. According to him, nearly 8.91 per cent of the total women cancer patients suffered from lung cancer. This is because the women in the hill state also smoke, many of them are passive smokers, he said.

Incidentally, the number of women suffering from cancer was more than men. Sources revealed that nearly 2,500 fresh cases of cancer were detected in the state every year.

"It is difficult to precisely ascertain which part of the state has the highest incidence of cancer. The number of patients in higher in Shimla because it has facilities for detection and treatment. People are more aware and they rush to the hospital for treatment," said another oncologist.

Patients from some districts like Sirmaur and Lahaul Spiti succumb to the disease since these areas did not have any facilities for detection of cancer. People in these distant places also lacked awareness about the disease.