Kurnool, Feb 3 (TNT) : On the occasion of World Cancer Day on Feb 4, Dr. Janakirama S.J., Consultant Surgical Gastroenterology and GI Oncology at KIMS Hospitals, emphasized that early detection plays a crucial role in saving lives from gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
Addressing the growing burden of cancer in India, Dr. Janakirama said GI cancers, including those affecting the food pipe, stomach, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, intestines, and colon, are often detected at advanced stages due to lack of awareness and delayed medical consultation.
He noted that lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, chronic acidity, liver disease, and hepatitis B and C infections significantly increase cancer risk.
Early warning signs like persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, blood in stools, prolonged indigestion, and jaundice should not be ignored,he said.
Dr. Janakirama highlighted that screening methods such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, imaging tests, and blood investigations can help detect cancers at an early and curable stage. He pointed out that colon cancer has a cure rate of over 90 percent when diagnosed early.
He also stated that advances in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgeries have improved treatment outcomes, enabling faster recovery and better quality of life. Stressing prevention, he advised quitting tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and undergoing regular health check-ups.
“Cancer is not always a death sentence. Awareness, early diagnosis, and timely treatment can save lives,” he added.
TNT TS
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