Cancer Treatment

Some studies suggest that nearly 25 to 30 % of  the cancers can be prevented by doing some lifestyle modifications . If you are a current tobacco user oe drink too much alcohol then quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer. Do not expose your skin to too much of sunlight and you can reduce skin cancer risk by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet also plays a vital role in the cancer prevention. Hence doctors may recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus’s relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death world-wide. It is accounted for 7.9 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in the year 2007. Some of the most common types of cancers are lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. About 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented if early detection is done and proper treatment is given.

Cancer arises from a change in one single cell. The change may be started by external agents and inherited genetic factors. Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled division of cells in the body. This uncontrolled growth of cells in the body may initially lead to benign tumor but if not controlled may carry a risk of turning malignant or cancer at a later stage.

It is a common myth that cancer is not curable and ultimately leads to death of a person. Only few people are aware of the fact that cancer is curable in most of the cases and if detected early, patient can lead a normal life. Using modern technology and clinical expertise most of the cancers can be detected at a much earlier stage and can be treated successfully. For this you need advanced technology and expert cancer specialists. Unfortunately, in many countries across the world, there are no well-equipped cancer facilities or hospitals. Advanced technology and skilled specialists are also not available. Hence cancer patients from such countries travel to other countries in search of advanced cancer hospitals and experienced cancer specialists. Not everybody can afford to travel to countries like the US, UK or other European countries. Cancer treatment in such countries is very expensive and more over there may be long waiting list too. Hence many cancer patients from all over the world travel to India for affordable cancer treatment at world-class cancer hospitals. The cancer hospitals in India have the most advanced technology like Cyberknife, IMRT, Novalis, PET Scan etc and highly skilled doctors. More over the cost of cancer treatment in India is much lower when compared to most of the developed countries like UK, US etc.

Cancer can be treated by number of methods and therapies. Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy and new treatments like Cyber Knife Radio surgery are some of the methods used in the treatments of cancer. The type of treatment that would be given to a patient is decided once the doctor examines the patient and all the necessary investigations are carried out.