One woman dies of cervical cancer every 8 minutes in India. Breast cancer accounts for 27% of all cancers in them. Women in villages are vulnerable due to lack of awareness. Common cancers in women such as oral cavity, breast and cervix can be prevented and treated when detected early. In our successful model, by screening 13863 people in 560 screening camps, our mobile medical unit has identified 52 cancer patients who are getting treated. More lives can be saved by extending this program
Tamilnadu has the 5th highest incidence of cancer deaths in India. Women in Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu are very vulnerable to oral, breast and cervical cancers due to prevalence of risk factors. Tobacco products manufacturing is a major cottage industry in Tirunelveli employing mostly women. Currently, there is no cancer screening program with a systematic referral for treatment within Tirunelveli district. Consequently cancer detection is delayed until advanced stage when treatment is ineffective
We go to the people. Our project involves visiting the people in their villages to create cancer awareness and conduct screenings. Since 2011 our team (trained by Cancer Institute, Chennai) is performing oral cancer screening, clinical breast examination and cervical screening using VIA and PAP smear tests. Persons presenting with symptoms are referred to a specialist for treatment at very early stage when it can be cured. Thus 52 cancer patients have been saved, 500+ are on follow up.
Screening technologies along with the Centers varied activities, can assist to improve short term and long term conditions of morbidity and mortality from cancers. Our successful and established model helps to create awareness about cancer which has cascading effect on the community. Many lives are saved thus protecting the families. Replication of this proven & established model in more geographies will help to save lives in the community, as we have seen in the past years.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
