Cancer institute sees rise in patients

Sameer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 2

Owing to intensive awareness drives or activities, a sizeable increase has been witnessed in the number of cancer patients receiving treatment at Advanced Cancer Institute and Hospital here.

As per the available data, the patient inflow has almost doubled in the outpatient department (OPD) of the cancer hospital in the past three years.

Doctors at the cancer hospital situated on the outskirts of the city on Mansa Road have attributed the sudden rise to increased awareness among people about the disease and its early symptoms. Experts are of the view that during intensive awareness drives in rural as well as urban areas, they major focus was on sensitising people to early symptoms of the disease so that early diagnosis could be done to prevent maximum damage and save more lives.

According to the data, as many as 14,802 patients visited the OPD unit of the hospital in 2018 as compare to 10,109 patients in 2017. In 2016, as many as 6,233 patients visited the hospital for treatment.

Similarly, the indoor patient department (IPD) unit has also witnessed a sizeable increase in the number of patients in the past three years.

According to the figures, as many as 544 cancer patients were admitted to the IPD in 2016 against 678 cancer patients in 2017. In 2018, the number was 968.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr MK Mahajan, director, Advanced Cancer Institute and Hospital, said, “Initially in 2016 when the centre was introduced, there was not much awareness among the people of the region about cancer, its manifestations, symptoms and availability of treatment. Earlier, owing to lack of awareness, not many people could avail treatment here. But after intensive awareness drives, seminars and CMEs, we have managed to provide cancer treatment to the maximum number of people now.”

Doctors at the hospital said a majority of the patients were suffering from oral, breast, esophagus, cervix and uterus cancer.

Dr Deepak Arora, medical superintendent, Advanced Cancer Institute and Hospital, said, “Owing to the advanced treatment techniques and latest medical infrastructure, cancer patients not only from the Malwa region but also from Haryana and Rajasthan have received treatment here in the past two years. At the hospital, any cancer patient with the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme card can avail free of cost treatment and medicines.”

Elaborating further, Dr Arora said, “An increase in the number of people opting for medical examinations (cancer diagnosis) must not be misconstrued with the increase in number of overall cancer patients. They have opted for it owing to increased awareness among them and to alleviate fear of the disease. Three years ago, people with milder symptoms of the disease would not come out in the open, get them screened or seek treatment. Apart from spreading general awareness about cancer, we also exhort people to do self-examination, follow a proper diet regime and maintain personal or sexual hygiene to keep the deadly disease at bay.”

The treatment methodologies followed at the centre has also seen a massive change in past three years with the latter organising CMEs and workshops that are attended by doctors from the PGIMER and other prestigious medical institutions of the region.

Over 14k visited opd in 2018

• According to the data, as many as 14,802 patients visited the OPD unit of the hospital in 2018 as compared to 10,109 patients in 2017. In 2016, as many as 6,233 patients visited the hospital for treatment.
• Similarly, the indoor patient department (IPD) unit has also witnessed a sizeable increase in the number of patients in the past three years.
• According to the figures, as many as 544 cancer patients were admitted to the IPD in 2016 against 678 cancer patients in 2017. In 2018, the number was 968.