Increasing Incidence of Lung Cancer Among Urban Men
Posted on May 30, 2008 in Current Affairs by Danteshwari
Lung cancer has gone beyond oral cancer among men in urban areas. This was observed by oncologists based upon elaborate data available in cancer registries in several Indian cities. Incidentally, the World No Tobacco Day is on 31st.
Cancer registries available in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal, New Delhi, Karunagappally and Ahmedabad indicate that lung cancer was a leading disease among men. Few years back, oral cancer, caused by chewing tobacco and other items was a common occurrence among men. The number of women patients suffering from lung cancer is lower than men, but it is also on the increase. This was observed by Dr. Purvish Parikh, head, medical oncology department, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He is member of the Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncologoists.
Dr.Parikh claims that 90% of lung cancer patients have suffered due to tobacco. According to a press release put out by the Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncologists, 50,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year, almost 80% of them are at an advanced stage, mostly among the elderly and the middle-aged. The society holds the view that lung cancer is gaining epidemic proportions in India.
Dr. Purna Kurkure, head, paediatric oncology department, Tata Memorial Hospital, who is also the president of the Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, feels that three-fourths of the smokers develop the habit in adolescence. The most effective, least expensive and achievable way of reducing lung cancer, according to her, is cessation of smoking. In fact, she would prefer the prevention of the habit of tobacco use.
Lung cancer was considered to be a rare disease at the beginning of the 20th century. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, around four million people die every year all over the world due to tobacco. Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths in developed countries. In developing countries, it was increasing rapidly.
Apart from smoking, exposure to carcinogens, dietary factors and indoor air pollution are also responsible for causing lung cancer.
A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in the US in December 2005 indicated high rates of lung cancer in current smokers (6.3 per 1,000 screens) and in former smokers who had smoked within a span of 15 years (4.9 per 1,000 screens). In the case of those who never smoked it was 0.4 per 1,00 screens.
Source: TOI, May 30, 2008
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