Still, the bigger question is: how curable is cancer? The answer to that is a definite YES if diagnosed in the initial stages and treated judiciously.
Most people assume that cancer always leads to death. But is that true? Or do we, due to ignorance and delay, make matters worse than they would be?
Many cancers can be treated and even cured. Many misconceptions regarding cancer cure exist in society, which can be busted by following facts based on scientific evidence. Earlier detected cancers have a higher chance of cure and long survival. They are much more easily dealt with when diagnosed right at the beginning. Cancer doesn't happen suddenly, it happens over time, with early symptoms frequently being painless. Ignoring what seems like subtle warnings becomes dangerous, such as a painless lump, a non-healing ulcer, or sometimes unexplained but persistent weight loss, which may hide an underlying malignancy. What's needed is identifying these early and not delaying treatment options.
Some common early signs of cancer are:
- Pain-free lumps or swellings that take a long time to grow.
- Unyielding cough or change in voice.
- Unidentified weight loss and fatigue.
- Old ulcers in one place, in the mouth, or even elsewhere.
- Irregular bleeding or change in bowel/bladder habits.
Secondly, certain advanced-stage cancers with specific targetable mutations also can be cured. Latest developments in precision oncology identify patient and tumor-specific targets which help in better results than conventional treatments.
Among all the types of cancers, oral cancer is very common in India due to heavy tobacco consumption. These tobacco chewers, smokers, and also those who consume alcohol in excess are the main reasons for cancers. Everybody is well aware of such problems, yet many do indulge in these habits, ultimately keeping their health unsafe.
Preventing cancer starts with a healthy lifestyle. Research indicates that approximately 40% of all cancers, or one in every 2 and a half cancers, is preventable based on lifestyle. The following steps can help in cutting the cancer burden:
- No Tobacco & Alcohol: 85% of lung cancers are due to tobacco and are also a main cause of cancers of the mouth. Even passive smoking elevates risk. Also, alcohol has an even higher contribution to cancers of the liver, mouth, and throat. The safest limit for alcohol is none at all!
- Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains augments immunity to cancer-preventing threats. Lessening processed foods, sugar drinks, and high-fat diets is also good.
- Working Out Regularly: In today's world, being physically fit lowers the percentage of obesity, one of the major causes of cancers, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. Thirty minutes of exercise every day is what you should aim for.
- Keeping a Healthy Weight: Obesity is a major cause of many cancers: breast, prostate, and colon. Obesity may be controlled by using the right diet and regular physical activity.
- Keep stress under control: Because stress lowers the immunity of the body and makes it more susceptible to cancer, hence yoga, meditation, and relaxation should be incorporated into one's daily schedule for a healthy life.
- Regular Healthcare Check-ups: Periodic check-ups, including mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopies, help with the identification of cancers as early as possible. It is an additional preventive tool for individuals with a combative history concerning cancer by the best medical oncology hospital in Delhi.
The great news, modern medicine offers multiple approaches, often combined treatments, in its effective way to treat cancers.
- Surgical resection: The basic method for tumor removal, particularly in early-stage cancers.
- Chemotherapy: The use of drugs for destroying cancer cells.
- Radiotherapy: Use of high-energy rays to kill or diminish cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy: Newer treatment options to boost the power of the immune system in fighting against cancers.
An extremely common misconception regarding cancer is that it is largely hereditary. Indeed, it is only around 5-10% of all the inheritable cancers. The vast majority, 90- 95%, are caused by lifestyle and environmental factors, meaning that they could be mostly preventable.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) is one of the first-class hospitals in India, with modern facilities for cancer diagnostics, treatment, and research. It offers:
- Advanced diagnostic tools for early cancer detection, such as PET-CT scans, MRI, and genetic testing.
- Combined modality treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in one go.
- Specialised cancer clinics such as breast cancer clinics, lung cancer clinics, head & neck cancer clinics, gastrointestinal cancer clinics, and more.
- Robotic surgery technology for precision-based cancer removal.
- Access to an army of expert oncologists and dedicated cancer specialists.
- TrueBeamSTXTM for Real-time Imaging and Precision
- TomoTherapy RadixactTM for Integrated Imaging for personalized and precise treatments.
- Siemens GoSimTM for advanced simulator for highly accurate treatment planning.
- Flexitron Brachytherapy for Internal Radiation for Targeted Tumour Therapy.
Other Comprehensive Radiotherapy Techniques provided by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital are:
- IGRT - Image-Guided Radiation Therapy
- IMRT - Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
- VMAT - Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy
- 3DCRT - Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy
- SRS - Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- SBRT - Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
- Brachytherapy - Internal Radiation Therapy
Because of advances in medicine, cancer treatment has truly reached new heights in effectiveness. New targeted therapies, combined with precision medicine and immunotherapy, have begun to yield tremendous improvements in survival rates.
Without a shadow of a doubt, there are many more hurdles now to completely eradicate it from the earth, but one thing is for sure: cancer is no longer that death sentence it was once thought to be. Awareness is the Key, and awareness is the biggest weapon against cancer. There are innumerable awareness programs available that can bring one to the safer side. Awareness in identifying the early warning signs, along with exposure to a healthy keynote lifestyle, and then periodic screenings can save cancer to the greatest extent.
Let us now spread the message across the world that cancer is preventable, cancer is treatable and cancer is curable with early detection! If you or your loved one needs cancer screening or treatment, then book an appointment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Do not delay, as early detection saves lives.
