JOIN USKidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology will soon be given the ‘State Cancer Institute’ status by the Centre, following which existing facilities will be upgraded.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Live Surgical workshop and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on ‘Cancer Oesophagus,’ Dr Vijay Kumar, Director, Kidwai, said that the status would be awarded in two months.
“A team from New Delhi recently visited the institute and have evaluated the infrastructure and other facilities. We are the only institute in the State who applied and got it,” he added. Kidwai is presently regarded the Regional Cancer Care Centre in Karnataka. “As a part of the upgradation, additional facilities might be introduced,” he said, adding that even robotics facilities ha d been requested for. Stating that cancer was on the rise, he said, “Presently, we see around 45,000 cases each year. In a decade from now, it might cross a 60,000.”
Dr Appaji, Medical Superintendent, Kidwai, said that oesophageal cancer was the fourth most common cancer in the State after cervical, breast and oral cancer. “The incidence is about eight in one lakh males and six in one lakh females,” he added.
The State, Appaji said, saw over 3,200 new cases of oesophageal cancer each year, out of which at least 600 were treated at the institute. “One of the main problems with the cancer is that there are no methods to diagnose it in initial stages. By the time there are evident symptoms such as Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), it would have already reached an advanced stage. Thus, only about 15 per cent are left eligible for surgery,” he said.
Dr Vijay Kumar said that the oesophageal cancer cases were high in north Karnataka due to their lifestyle. Quoting from Dr R V Patil report, he said “It is mostly because they store food for longer periods. This creates a conducive atmosphere for fungus. Besides, it also has to do with excessive consumption of chillies.”