the goan I network
MARGAO
Breast and ovarian cancers, the two inter-related diseases, are more common in India than the rest of the world, say cancer specialists. And, Goa seems to be no exception.
In fact, a group of cancer doctors, says that Goa is the women’s cancer capital of India owing to late marriages, delayed childbearing, unhealthy lifestyle, etc. Quoting some studies, Dr Ashay Karpe, a renowned blood cancer specialist from Raheja hospital, Mumbai and Goa’s only lady cancer surgeon Dr Judith Das (MS), said that blood cancer prevalence in Goan women is much higher than the national average. Also, middle-income and high-income groups show more prevalence of breast and ovarian cancers compared to low-income groups, they said.
Dr Karpe said the World Health Organization (WHO) has put the number of breast cancer deaths to 5.25 lakh a year and India accounts for nearly 20 per cent of these deaths. “Nearly 50 per cent of the breast and ovarian cancer cases are reported in India,” he said while calling for modification in lifestyles which could avoid 50 per cent of cancer cases.
To a question, Dr Judith Das said around 200 cases of breast cancer are reported in Goa every year on an average. “If your first degree relatives, parents, siblings or child had breast or ovarian cancer, your chances of developing them simply doubles compared to women with no affected first degree relatives,” Dr Judith said, while making a fervent plea to all such Goan women above 35 years to take some time for themselves for the sake of their families and screen themselves.
Both Dr Judith and Dr Karpe stressed on the need for women to subject themselves for regular screening for breast and ovarian cancers. “We come across cancer patients, who are already affected by stage II of the disease and which make diagnosis difficult at a late stage,” they said. ALARMING FACTS
Blood cancer prevalence in Goan women is much higher than the national average
Middle-income and high-income groups show more prevalence of breast and ovarian cancers
Around 200 cases of breast cancer are reported in Goa every year on an average
India accounts for nearly 20 per cent 5.25 lakh deaths a year due to breast cancer
DOCTORS’ APPEAL
Women must subject themselves for regular screening for breast and ovarian cancers
