NIMS Chairman Addresses on “ World Cancer Awareness Day”

Prof. (Dr.) Balvir S. Tomar (Chairman & Chancellor Nims University) speaks up for cancer and refers to a group of diseases which share similar characteristics. Cancer can affect all living cells in the body, at all ages and in both genders. The causes are multi factorial and the disease process differs at different sites. Tobacco is the single most important identified risk factor for cancer, he said.

Dr. Tomar said that “Many cancers can be prevented by not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, being vaccinated against certain infectious diseases, not eating too much processed and red meat, and avoiding too much exposure to sunlight”

He said “When cancer begins, it invariably produces no symptoms. Signs and symptoms only appear as the mass continues to grow or ulcerates. The findings that result depend on the type and location of the cancer. Few symptoms are specific, with many of them also frequently occurring in individuals who have other conditions.”

The control of cancer requires the effective implementation of knowledge derived from more than two decades of successful research. It is now known that over one-third of cancers are preventable, and one-third potentially curable provided they are diagnosed early in their course.

Further, the quality of life of patients with incurable disease can be improved with intense mcare. “Financial and geographic constraints, and lack of manpower have contributed to the urban concentration of facilities. A large number of cancers diagnosed in the population are not treated,”.