Ambala: The increasing number of cancer patients in Haryana is a matter of concern for the state health department. In every two hours, a cancer patient suffering from this dreaded disease dies, on an average five thousand cancer patients are dying every year in the state. According to former National Vice President of Indian Medical Association Dr D.S. Jaspal, if lifestyle and eating habits are changed then cancer can be prevented to a great extent. One should start treatment immediately as soon as symptoms of disease are detected.
According to a medical survey, cancer is becoming a dreadful problem in Haryana, where in every two hours one person is dying of this disease and on an average every year nearly 5000 cancer patients are dying. Not only this, the graph of new patients is also rapidly increasing every year and if lifestyle and eating habits are changed then cancer can be avoided to a great extent.
Information reveals, during examination out of one lakh suspected persons of age above 30 years, 102 persons were found having cancer symptoms in the examination in the state, which included more cases of mouth cancer in men and cervical and breast cancer in women. Information also revealed that this disease is spreading rapidly in Faridabad of Yamuna river belt and Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kaithal and Ambala districts of Ghaggar river belt. Water samples taken from various places in Yamuna and Ghaggar rivers by the task force constituted on the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) found poisonous elements in the river water extremely dangerous for human health. Survey in this regard revealed, due to disorderly lifestyle, environmental problems and lack of awareness, one in five men and one in eight women were detected at risk of cancer. Tobacco consumption due to smoking or taking ‘gutkha’ is found to be the leading cause of cancer, accounting for about 40 percent of cases. If one stays away from tobacco products, it can reduce the risk of several types of cancer. According to Dr. D.S. Jaspal, treatment for first and second stage cancer is possible and can be easily tested.
According to Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, cancer patients are treated free of cost at the Atal Care Centre Ambala Cantt, National Cancer Institute Jhajjar and PGI Rohtak where the medicines are also provided free of cost. Besides this, free travel for cancer patients (on the production of treatment card)as well as monthly pension for the patients is also permissible. The state government has started a monthly pension towards assistance amount of Rs. 3000 for patients suffering from stage three and four of cancer. Patients from families with an annual income of up to Rs. 3 lakh getting financial benefits under the Social Security Pension Scheme along with the pension. As usually seen, more than 64 percent of patients suffering from third and fourth stages of cancer belong to families having poor financial backgrounds.
