Let’s fight Cancer

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4

 By Dr Sujata Mitra

Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital (MTMH) steps into its 50^th year of existence as a cancer care hospital in February this year. From its inception in 1975, the hospital has continued to expand and update its diagnostics and treatment facilities. Tata Trusts helped to upgrade the hospital in 2019. On world cancer day, it is time to review where we stand in our fight against the disease.

The gains have been many. Standard treatment, in line with accepted international guidelines for most cancers is available at MTMH. There is a dedicated team of doctors from both MTMH and TMH, nursing staff and healthcare workers to provide care. The infrastructure is modern, with the latest in diagnostic and treatment equipment. In our mission to provide accessible cancer care, we have succeeded to some extent and today, many cancer patients opt to be treated locally rather than travel out of Jamshedpur.

However, there are some goals that remain elusive, creating disease awareness and cancer screening being the most important ones. Most patients seek treatment late, when the disease has spread and little can be offered as cure. We continue to receive patients in an advanced stage where treatment is not effective. People are not aware of early symptoms of cancer, tend to ignore them and seek medical advice late. They waste time and money on alternative medicine, are fearful of the diagnosis and do not reach the right doctor or center for diagnosis or treatment.

There is also financial constraint, with the perception that cancer treatment is bound to be costly.

MTMH has many schemes, where with the help of government aid and corporate & individual donations, needy patients are supported financially. It creates disease awareness through ‘sahiyas’ with help of Tata Steel Foundation. Awareness sessions through NGOs help to reach out to public. It also reaches out to the medical fraternity for timely referrals of patients. Cancer screening packages will soon be offered at MTMH.

There is still a long way to go. Unless we catch the disease early, we will continue to have cancer related mortalities that could have been avoided.

(Author is Director, Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital, Jamshedpur. The views expressed are personal.)