Members of the Rajya Sabha have expressed concern over the recent increase in cancer cases in India. Members of the Rajya Sabha suggested ways to combat the sickness, which included frequent check-ups in rural regions and placing a warning on processed meat packaging.
Mahesh Poddar, a member of the BJP, raised the issue during Zero Hour. He suggested that “packets of processed meat should have a cancer warning like tobacco products.”
WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had warned in 2015 that processed meat and red meat might cause cancer, he added. Increased consumption of highly processed meat might lead to up to 16 lakh cases every year by 2025, added the BJP member.
Rewati Raman Singh, a senior SP member said that around 1,400-1,600 individuals die from cancer every year. These figures are worth concerning. If no precautions are taken, the sickness might “become a Tsunami.” Given that 60% of India’s population lives in rural regions, Singh proposes frequent check-up camps to help detect cancer early.
He also argued for the removal of GST on cancer drugs. L Hanumanth Aiah, a Congress member, urged that Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru should get a special fund to create a proton therapy facility.
He claimed the institution requires 550 crores to build the infrastructure. But the institution only seeks 230 crores from the national government. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said Rajya Sabha MPs could help the institution.
Asserting that the government should build a reliable platform that offers “rapid, accurate, real information” in simple language, NCP member Vandana Chavan raised concerns about disinformation amid health emergencies. So, both the government’s interests and the people’s interests are protected.
“There was a lot of misinformation, and misleading news shared on social media during the COVID epidemic,” she added
Shocking case following the concern
Suma Sathish, a female businesswoman who reportedly owned a textile firm, allegedly committed suicide in the early hours of Tuesday on the balcony of her house in Mangaluru, Karnataka. She supposedly did it after being diagnosed with cancer. A case has been filed at the Barke Police Station.
It is not the only instance of a cancer sufferer committing suicide. There are several cases when cancer patients take this step because they are concerned about the expense of treatment, are afraid of the cancer treatment procedures, or get into depression due to cancer.
Story of positivity
Seema Kamath, the wife of Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath, recently revealed her breast cancer story and lessons learned to raise awareness about cancer, regular health checkups, health insurance, and general health and well-being. Nithin Kamath turned to Twitter to express his support for his wife’s cancer experience.
Despite having no symptoms, she went to an oncologist who performed a biopsy and a PET scan, which revealed the tumour was cancerous and breast-specific. In the same time, Nithin and his wife both went bald. He promised to be bald till his wife’s hair grew back. “I could end up being bald even after my treatment,” she said.
The good take
Cancer is now treatable, unless it is detected too late. When you see the warning symptoms, take advantage of every opportunity to have it tested as soon as possible. Keep a watch on your intake of highly processed foods. Instead of seeing cancer as a taboo subject, raise its awareness since life does not stop here until you have the will to fight.
Published By: Apoorva Wakodikar
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
