‘Soon, we may see cancer as chronic disease’

Ludhiana, July 16

An NGO, ICanGuide, organised an oncology seminar for cancer patients. Dr Ashwin Philps, head, medical oncology, and Dr Chepsy Philip, associate professor, clinical haematology, from Christian Medical College and Hospital were the guest speakers.

Over 80 doctors, including Dr Surinder Gupta, Dr Karamvir Goyal, Dr Kulwant Singh, Inder Sharma, Dr Kunal Jain and Dr KS Soin, among others, attended the session. Dr Gupta, founder, “ICanGuide”, said 32 million people die every year globally due to non-communicable diseases comprising heart attack, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

“Cancer being the second potential killer in this list is a major concern. It puts family under stress apart from a major financial burden. And it’s the right time that our family physicians know how to detect and co-ordinate treatment plan in a cancer patient,” said Dr Gupta.

Dr Kulwant said family physicians were backbone of the healthcare delivery system. Dr Ashwin Philips said with an advent of newer and safer treatment options even a stage 4 cancer patient can live good quality life for years. He said soon we may see cancer as a chronic disease like incurable but manageable diabetes. He advocated a good coordinated action plan with an equal involvement of oncologists, diagnostics, medical, surgical and pain therapists. — TNS