Hyderabad: There has been a worrying rise in cancer cases across several districts in Telangana, which has been discovered through special screening drives. In response, the government is planning to introduce cancer screening vehicles in every district to help detect the disease early.
Officials reported that the Mehdi Nawaz Jung (MNJ) Cancer Hospital has asked the government for Rs 170 crore to purchase these vehicles. Many people in the rural areas had cancer but were unaware of their condition until they were screened.
The MNJ Cancer Hospital conducted screening campaigns in villages in the districts of Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, and Khammam. They discovered many cancer cases, especially among women. The most common types of cancer found were mouth, breast, and bone cancer, with breast cancer being the most frequent among the women screened.
Doctors involved in the screening said that they found numerous cases even in random tests. The proposed screening vehicles will be equipped with laboratories and other necessary medical equipment. Sources say the hospital is requesting 38 vehicles, with each costing around Rs 2.5 crore.
The number of cancer cases in the state has been rising in recent years, with mouth, breast, cervix, and ovarian cancer being the most common. In 2022, there were around 1,000 breast cancer cases in the state. By 2023, this number increased to 1,500, showing a significant rise.
Doctors emphasize that early detection is key to treating cancer successfully. Senior oncologist Dr. Ramesh from Hyderabad explained that if cancer is caught in its early stages, such as the first or second stage, it can often be cured. Unfortunately, many patients don’t realize they have cancer until it’s too late, often coming for check-ups only when they are in the last stages. Dr. Ramesh also pointed out that changes in lifestyle, increased stress, and lack of physical activity are major factors contributing to the rise in cancer cases.
