An overview of the Genesis of Preventive Oncology Unit at a Tertiary Cancer Care Hospital in a Developing Country – A concept paper

Vinod K. Ramani, Radheshyam Naik

Abstract


Background: Preventing cancer is better than treating or curing it. Cancer prevention ensures reduced physical, emotional, financial burden to the individual. Methods: The focus of the preventive oncology unit at Healthcare Global (HCG) Enterprise Limited, Bangalore, India, is to increase the understanding of how lifestyle and risk of cancer are related. It also focusses on screening of normal individuals for estimating their risk of developing cancer, which in-turn can lead to earlier detection, improved treatment and outcomes. This unique endeavor started one year back, provides counseling and vaccination services for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). Our outreach initiatives in collaboration with the State and City health Departments include screening camps, and awareness sessions focusing on HPV and HBV vaccination. Results: The focus of research is in the areas of cancer epidemiology, prevention, screening, and control. Such research involves a multidisciplinary approach involving the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral science, nutrition, and basic science. Conclusion: This novel endeavor at a tertiary cancer hospital in a Developing Country is aimed at preventing the development or progression of the malignant cancer process.

Keywords


Early detection of cancer; mass screening; research

Full Text:

PDF

References


Cancer fact sheets. World Health Organization. Available from:

who.int/health-topics/cancer. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 08].

Cancer control: Knowledge into action. WHO Guide for effective

Programmes: Module 3: Early detection. Geneva: World Health

Organization; 2007. PMID: 24716262.

Saranth D, Khanna A. Current status of cancer burden: Global

and Indian scenario. Biomed Research Journal 2014;1:1-5.

Cancer prevention, American Institute for Cancer Research.

Available from: aicr.org. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 08].

Healthcare Global Enterprise Limited. Available from: www.

hcgoncology.com. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 09].

Panchal PH. Trailing the path to preventive oncology. Adv

Cancer Prev 2016;1:104.

Lauenstein TC, Semelka RC. Emerging techniques: Wholebody screening and staging with MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging

;24:489-98.

Lee SY, Park HJ, Kim MS, Rho MH, Han CH. An initial

experience with the use of whole body MRI for cancer screening

and regular health checks. PLoS One 2018;13:e0206681.

Kwee RM, Kwee TC. Whole body MRI for preventive health

screening: A systematic review of the literature. J Magn Reson

Imaging 2019;50:1489-503.

Semelka R. Why MRI should replace CT for whole body

screening. Medscape Radiol 2004;5.

Anupindi SA, Bedoya MA, Lindell RB, Rambhatla SJ, Zelley K,

Nichols KE, et al. Diagnostic performance of whole body MRI

as a tool for cancer screening in children with genetic cancer

predisposing conditions. Am J Roentgenol 2015;205:400-8.

Available from: https://www.choosingwisely.org/patientresources/whole-body-scans-to-screen-for-cancer/. [Last accessed

on 2019 Dec 26].

Ulus S, Suleyman E, Ozcan UA, Karaarslan E. Wholebody MRI screening in asymptomatic subjects: Preliminary

experience and long-term follow-up findings. Pol J Radiol

;81:407-14.

American cancer society prevention and early detection

guidelines. Available from: cancer.org/healthy. [Last accessed on

Apr 09].

Cancer screening overview, National Cancer Institute. Available from:

cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 10].

Cancer recommendations. U.S Preventive Services task force.

Available from: uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. [Last accessed

on 2020 Apr 09].

Henry Lynn N, Hayes DF. Cancer biomarkers. Mol Oncol

;6:140-6.

Vaccines & Immunizations. Centers for Disease control and

prevention. Available from: cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/

adult.html. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 09].