HEALTH

‘Cancer patients need moral support’
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 30 — The 18th Public Health Lecture on Breast Cancer was held at the Dumra Auditorium of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Dr J.D. Wig, Department of Surgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh delivered the lecture, which was conducted by the health education cell of DMCH.

Dr Wig said that though breast cancer was generally found among women, yet it also occurred in men. People think that breast cancer can not be treated, but effective treatment therapies were available for it these days. He said if the patient detected symptoms of breast cancer i.e., swelling of the breast, inward nipples, wounds or rashes on the breast and lumps in the breast, he or she should consult the doctor immediately, as timely detection helped in cure.

Dr Wig also pointed out that Indian women generally hesitate in coming to the doctor at the early stages, which was quite harmful as medical consultation at an advanced stage could be problematic. He stated that the reason behind it was lack of awareness and there was not a single special clinic for breast cancer.

He said that nothing was being done by the government to spread awareness about it despite the fact that it was the one of the commonest forms of cancer. He further informed that women who have late marriages, who bear children after the age of 35 or who have early or late menopause were at a greater risk of having breast cancer. Those who take hormonal replacement therapy and oral contraceptives were exposed to little risk. A high-calorie diet and alcohol intake also increased its risk.

Dr Wig said that best way to detect it was to do self-examination under the shower or while lying down. He said that this should be done one week after mensuration and the menopausal women should do it on the first day of every month.

He further informed that scientists were working on a medicine which would be helpful for this disease. A lot of treatment therapies were already available, like chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy. Various tests like mammography and biopsy were also available.

If the breast gets removed after surgery in extreme cases, it could be reconstructed aibeit women could not get back their previous figure. Even after the treatment thorough check-ups should be done. But the most important thing was that the patient should face the problem with a positive frame of mind. Moral support to the patient was very necessary during the detection as well as treatment of the disease. One should understand that the surgery was safe and treatment of the problem was possible. Mr Prem Nath Gupta, Secretary, Managing Society of DMCH, in his address said that lot of health problems could be solved by developing a simple and disciplinary life style. Mr. Balraj, Vice-president, Managing Society, DMCH, Dr Raju Singh Chinna, Convener, Health Education Cell, Dr G.S. Wandor, Medical Superintendent, Dr M.L. Gupta, Head of Surgery department were also present on the occasion.