With ageing population, cancer patients will increase in India: Expert

Mumbai: With the rise in the ageing population in India, the number of cancer patients will increase, according to Prof Dr Andreas Trumpp, who is Managing Director at the Division of Stem Cells and Cancer at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and Co-Founder, Genavinta Health.

Prof Trumpp, who is leading a delegation of German and Indian researchers working in the area of Stem Cells and Cancer, called on Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai and held detailed discussions.

He informed the Governor about the Indo-German Project on Cancer Research and the new exciting advancements in the field of cancer care.

The delegation discussed advancing AI-driven precision oncology in India and fostering Indo-German collaboration to bring cutting-edge cancer diagnostics and treatments to the poor and needy population of India.

Welcoming the delegation of researchers and oncologists, the Governor called for strengthening Indo-German collaboration in cancer care. “Cancer not only affects a person physically but also affects mentally and psychologically,” he said.

He assured the researchers of all the help and cooperation from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in their research collaboration.

Prof Trumpp told the Governor that with the rise in the ageing population in India, the number of cancer patients will increase.

He said technological advancements in diagnosis and new drugs are going to revolutionise cancer treatment.

“Apart from tobacco consumption, environmental pollution, toxins, obesity, and alcohol consumption are also contributing to the burden of cancer,” he said, adding that prevention efforts and early diagnosis can reduce the incidence of cancer.

Dr Sewanti Limaye, Director of Medical & Precision Oncology at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, spoke about Precision Oncology and said that modern treatment in cancer will increase the effectiveness and reduce side effects.

Dr Ashok Mehta, a renowned Cancer Surgeon, told the Governor that India is going through an exciting phase of bringing technology. He said India will have the same level of treatment as is available in the West. He expressed the need to bring down the cost of cancer treatments,t which sometimes goes up to Rs 30 lakh - 40 lakh.

Dr Jennifer Wischhusen, senior scientist from the German Cancer Research Centre specialising in breast and ovarian cancer research, Dr Shubhankar Sood and Co-Founder Genavinta Health and Heidi Trumpp, physiotherapist, were also present.