1,000 new cancer patients at GCRI every year 

The cancer research institute alone has registered an increase of 43 per cent patients in the past five years. Of these 21 per cent are from Ahmedabad

Cancer could well be on its way to becoming the next common cold, if the surge in new cases is any indication. The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI) registered a 43 per cent increase in cancer cases in the past five years. Every year 1,000 new cancer cases are registered at GCRI; of these almost 21 per cent cases are from Ahmedabad.
Dr Jainesh Shah, assistant officer of Community Oncology Department at GCRI, said, “About 21 per cent of cancer cases registered with us are from Ahmedabad, a large majority from urban areas. The figures are definitely higher because several patients go to private practitioners.“

In 2007, GCRI registered 14,000 cancer cases which rose to around 20,000 in 2014. Even private hospitals like HCG, which saw 656 cases in 2012, registered 1,390 cases last year.Moreover, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and lack of awareness have led to surge in cancers like thyroid and bile duct cancer which were dormant till a few years ago.

Dr Swati N Parikh of HCG Cancer Hospital said that among all the cancers, incidences of thyroid cancer have increased suddenly in recent years. In 2009, as against 14 cases of thyroid cancer at the hospital, the figure rose to 20 last year.

“Though it is deadly, thyroid cancer is the most curable cancer. Howev er, lack of awareness and delay in treatment can turn fatal,“ said Dr Kaustubh Patel, head and neck surgical oncologist at HCG Cancer Hospital. In fact, the rate of survival in thyroid cancer is way better than other types of cancer.Cases of bile ductcancer are also on rise and experts blame it on the lack of awareness. Dr Avinash Kumar Tank, laparoscopic gastro-intestinal, obesity and cancer surgeon from Shalby Multispeciality Hospital said that fluctuating jaundice may be due to this type of cancer.

“In all, 30 per cent of jaundice cases are due to obstruction in the bile duct.And of these, 75 per cent are mainly due to cancer. It is due to lack of aware ness that this type of cancer is on the rise,“ said Dr Tank.

Esophageal cancer is another form of cancer that has registered a steady rise since 2010, according to Gujarat Cancer Research Institute. “This is due to the changing food habits among people. They are using more cold and preserved foods that has more carcinogens, leading to esophageal cancer,“ said Dr Parikh.Dr Chirag Desai, medical oncologist from Hemato Oncology Clinic said, “While I received around 2,500 cancer cases in 2008, the number touched nearly 4,000 in 2014. This is the trend not only in Ahmedabad, but across the country,“ he added.