Institute launches website on cancer

The website, which is available in both Tamil and English, says about all types of cancers.

To create awareness on cancer among the people, the Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research here has launched a website (cancerawarenesssrior.com) and an e-book to mark the World Cancer Day on Thursday.

The website, which is available in both Tamil and English, says about all types of cancers, the importance of early detection through periodical screening, the treatment, and preventive measures to be taken. The site is compatible for different platforms, devices, and operating systems. The medical information is provided in a simple way for the common man to understand, says the institute director P. Guhan.

Corporation Commissioner K. Vijaya Karthikeyan declared open a monthlong free colorectal screening programme. The Commissioner, himself a doctor, termed non-communicable diseases as a major threat. While rapid advances in medical technology has helped treat most diseases people must spend time on their health and take preventive steps, said, R. Vijaya Kumhar, managing trustee of the institute.

Dr. Guhan said that the institute has screened more than two lakh women for cervical cancer and 30,000 for oral cancer. The institute was keen on working with the Coimbatore Corporation to conduct screening programmes at its health centres.

Quoting figures from the Indian Cancer Registry, he said the country had 25 lakh cancer patients, a figure that went by 10 lakh every year. Nearly 40 per cent of five lakh cancer-related deaths annually could have been prevented by early screening. Most of the patients get admitted only in terminal stages, he adds.

Information about the free colorectal screening camp, which will be held through out February, can be obtained by contacting the following numbers: (0422) 438 9797 / 4500 203, 95007 22889.

Gem Hospital

The GEM Hospital and Research Centre and the Rotary Club of Metropolis Coimbatore conducted a cancer awareness and screening programme for the people on Wednesday.

Hospital chairman C. Palanivelu said that the number of cancer cases was increasing, particularly the digestive system cancers. R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), A. Edwin Joe, Dean of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, spoke. Several cancer survivors shared their experiences during the programme.

Eye cancer

Rajesh Prabu, consultant, Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Sankara Eye Hospital here, said few were aware that cancer could affect children’s eyes as well.

The most common eye cancer among children is retinoblastoma, which if left untreated, resulted in loss of vision and can even prove fatal. The malignant cells form in the tissues of retina.

Though uncommon, it accounted for 3 per cent of all cancer cases in children. Although it can occur at any age, it is most commonly seen in children less than 2 years.

Screening camp

Sheela Hospital in Tatabad is organising a free breast cancer awareness programme and screening camp from Thursday to Sunday.