RCHRC conducts a cancer awareness session at Birsa Agricultural University

In collaboration with Birsa Agricultural University, the RCHRC team conducted a session aimed at raising awareness about the early signs and symptoms of cancer, empowering individuals to take control of their own health

On 27^th October 2023, Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (RCHRC), a unit of the Tata Cancer Care Foundation, successfully organised a cancer awareness session at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) in Ranchi. The primary objective of the session was to sensitise the university leaders on the subject of cancer, empowering them to take proactive measures to prevent and detect the disease at an early stage. The awareness session was attended by more than 57 participants, including senior functionaries from the university such as Dr Sushil Prasad, the Director Administration and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Dr J Oraon, Director Extension Education, and Mr Aftab Mohsin, Comptroller.

While discussing the high incidence of cancer in India, Dr Madan Mohan Pandey, Director of Medical Services at RCHRC, emphasised that a major contributing factor to the country's high rates of late detection of cancer and associated mortality is a lack of awareness about the symptoms of the disease. He also drew attention to the alarming cancer crisis in Jharkhand, where a large number of citizens struggle to receive timely and quality healthcare. Dr Pandey further stated that since cancer claims the lives of approximately 1,300 people in India every day, there is an urgent need for prompt and efficient action to prevent, treat, and eradicate the disease.

Dr Pandey also introduced RCHRC’s new health initiative called ‘Know Your Health’, which has been launched to aid in the early detection of cancer. This initiative offers a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s risk factors for common cancers and lifestyle-related health issues. To monitor risk factors associated with lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, etc., individuals can undergo a series of diagnostic tests and consult with an internal medicine specialist. In case patient history, physical examination, or biomarkers indicate a risk for cancer, an oncologist is available for consultation. The ‘Know Your Health’ initiative is a step towards making preventive healthcare more accessible for people in India, especially Jharkhand.

RCHRC’s medical oncologist Dr Rajanigandha Tudu enlightened the audience about the different risk factors for cancer, such as poor lifestyle choices, tobacco and alcohol use, and genetics. She urged everyone in the audience to be on the lookout for the warning indicators of cancer since survival rates are considerably higher when it is detected early. She debunked some widespread misconceptions about cancer and discussed other strategies for preventing the disease, such as routine screening and vaccination.

The RCHRC team was commended by Dr B K Agrawal, BAU Director of Students Welfare, for organising the cancer awareness session. He also expressed his gratitude towards the Tata Trusts for setting up a state-of-the-art oncology hospital in Ranchi, which has eliminated the need for residents to travel long distances to receive high-quality cancer care.