SHILLONG:
Cancer is a disease which affects the cells of the body, and it can grow uncontrollably, spreading to other parts of the body. It has adverse effects on a person’s body which can lead to a number of complications. Though it is non-communicable, it is oftentimes fatal as there are no cures, only treatments. In a bid to bring awareness about the dreaded disease, National Cancer Awareness Day was created.
Just like every other year, National Cancer Awareness Day 2022 is observed on November 7 to spread awareness about the prevention of cancer and the importance of its early detection.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Indian Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, initially declared November 7 as National Cancer Awareness Day in September 2014. Since then, November 7 has been recognised as National Cancer Awareness Day across the nation. This day is commemorated annually to raise awareness of early diagnosis and to discourage living cancer-causing lifestyles.
A staggering 3 lakhs deaths in men and women were reported in India in 2018 as a result of extensive tobacco usage, including oral and smoked forms (without smoke). A poisonous substance known as tobacco is thought to be the primary cause of cancer in many people around the world. Since that time, 10.1 lakhs new cancer cases are recorded annually in the nation; some of them are related to tobacco smoking, while others are caused by other cancers, including breast cancer in women, oral cavity and lung cancer in males, and cervical cancer in women.
What is Cancer:
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterised by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body.
The second leading cause of death worldwide is cancer. On the other hand, thanks to advancements in cancer screening, treatment, and prevention, survival rates are rising for many cancer types.
How the day is marked:
The goal of the 2022 National Cancer Awareness Day is to increase awareness and also encourage your loved ones to get tested by educating them about cancer prevention. You can learn more about cancer, its signs and symptoms, treatment, precaution online or in the form of Information brochures distributed at many hospitals and clinics. The best way to honor National Cancer Awareness Day is through educating others.
National Cancer Awareness Day is held in India to increase awareness of the disease among its citizens, as the name suggests. Many communities offer services for cancer screening and detection, and anyone can get tested.
What you can do:
First, go through a test. It’s not always essential to wait until an issue starts to directly affect you before you can identify it. Early signs can occasionally be quickly identified through screening exams, which puts doctors and other medical professionals in a better position to assist you if necessary.
Assist the affected. There might not be much we can do to help someone who, sadly, has been afflicted by the condition. Small acts, however, can occasionally have a big impact. The patient and their family may need some financial assistance, or it may just be nice to pay them a quick visit to let them know you’re thinking about them. Give them the much-needed emotional support especially for those who underwent chemotherapy
Lastly, spread knowledge of the illness in your neighborhood. Make sure you discuss the ineffectiveness of early screening and diagnosis of cancer symptoms with your family, friends, and as many other individuals as you can. It is advised to get a cancer screening even if you are feeling completely fine, especially if you are over 30.