According to Dr Naveen, 21,051 new cancer cases were registered at the Kidwai Hospital in Bengaluru; and more than 3.89 lakh cancer patients visited the hospital for follow-up, in 2024.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Even as World Cancer Day was observed on February 4, there is some relief for cancer patients of Mysuru region. Over 11,398 cancer patients of Mysuru district, who travel to Bengaluru, for treatment at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology can soon be treated at Kidwai's Peripheral Cancer Centre in Mysuru, itself.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allotted Rs 40 crore for this centre in the July 2023 Budget. He laid the foundation stone for the centre on December 22, 2023.
Dean and Director of Mysore Medical College and Research Center (MMCRI) Dr K R Dakshayini said that MMCRI has given 5 acres of land for the centre on Princess Krishnarajamani Tuberculosis (PKTB) Hospital campus, on KRS Road, in Mysuru.
Dr T Naveen, Director, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru said that the construction of the building of the centre in Mysuru is likely to be completed by June. Meanwhile, they have submitted a proposal to the state government for recruitment of manpower and procurement of equipment, he said.
To reduce pressure
According to Dr Naveen, 21,051 new cancer cases were registered at the Kidwai Hospital in Bengaluru; and more than 3.89 lakh cancer patients visited the hospital for follow-up, in 2024.
Among them, 11,398 patients, including 4,997 men and 6,401 women were from Mysuru district. Most of the patients at the hospital come from the lower socio-economic strata, especially from rural areas.
So, in order to reduce the pressure on Kidwai in Bengaluru and to ensure that the patients from Mysuru and nearby districts get cancer treatment in Mysuru itself, led by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kidwai Administrator, Dr Y Naveen Bhat they are coming up with this peripheral centre in Mysuru.
Increase in cancer patient
Dr Naveen said, "About 87,850 new cancer cases are reported in Karnataka every year. At any point of time, there are about 2.37 lakh cases in Karnataka. There is an increase in the number of cancer patients by 1 per cent in Bengaluru and other metropolitan cities, every year."
"The leading cancers among male are oral (9.6 per cent), lungs (9.1per cent), tongue (7.3 per cent), and esophagus (5.9 per cent), where as breast (21.7 per cent), cervix (16.1 per cent), oral (8.7 per cent), ovary (5.2 per cent) cancers are common among females. If diagnosed early and treated optimally, with remarkable advancement in treatment, 60-70 per cent of cancer can be cured. Unfortunately, more than 50 per cent of the patients visit the cancer centre in advanced stages and their survival rate is minimal," he said.
Risk factors
Dr Naveen added that an increase in patients and patterns of cancers can be attributed to several risk factors. One third of them are due to tobacco and lifestyle factors. So, avoiding chewing of pan masala, gutkha, supari and tobacco can reduce the chances of cancer of mouth (oral), throat, esophagus (food pipe) and stomach.
"Quitting tobacco smoking can reduce chances of lung cancer. Some other probable modifiable risk factors include alcohol consumption, late marriage, lack of exercise and body hygiene, stress, junk foods, preserved food (like salted fish), long-term use of hormone tablets, application of inorganic insecticides, pesticides and weedicides," he said.
Centre for awareness, early detection, cure
"Prevention is always better than cure. So, like Kidwai Institute in Bengaluru, the new centre in Mysuru, will conduct regular awareness programmes among the public on cancer, its risk factors and symptoms. They will also hold regular cancer detection camps, to diagnose, treat and cure cancer in the early stages," Dr Naveen said.
Tumkur
The Kidwai Peripheral Cancer Centre is taking shape in Tumakuru as well and the construction of the building is under process. They are gearing up to come up with Centres in Shivamogga and Belagavi too.