Stress on early diagnosis of cancer

PUDUCHERRY: Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh, on Saturday, stressed the need for creation of awareness of early diagnosis of cancer as it is a key factor in treatment.Inaugurating the first annual conference of Pondicherry orthopedic association (POA Con 2011) held at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute  (MGMC&RI), Singh said that approximately three million people in India had been affected by cancer. There were over nine lakh new cases, four lakh deaths every year and the disease was growing at an alarming rate of 11 per cent annually. The most common forms of cancer were lung, mouth, stomach and throat and for women cervix and breast cancer.However, with no specific study on the incidence of bone cancer, it has been estimated that 15,000 cases are reported annually. Though the incidence is less prevalent in the country, there is a high probability of increase in the number of cases due to increasing risk factors. Continuing medical education programme on bone tumours was conducted as part of the conference. Senior orthopaedicians also delivered scientific lectures. Chancellor of the Shri Balaji Vidhyapeeth  University MK Rajagopal presided over the function and Vice Chancellor Dr Gunasekharan addressed the gathering.Orthopaedic surgeons from Pondicherry and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu have attended the conference in large numbers.Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Prof Mayilvahanan Natrajan spoke on on limb salvage procedures. Prof Dr James Gnanadoss,  past president of POA, delivered the POA Oration.  A medical exhibition was opened for the benefit of the budding orthopaedicians. Conference was concluded with a cultural programme.