ICMR project to accelerate cancer screening at district level
Why in news ?
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest on the implementation of research to accelerate cancer screening, early diagnosis, and treatment.
What is Cancer?
- Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
- Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells.
- Normally, human cells grow and multiply through a process called cell division, to form new cells as the body needs them.
- When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t.
ICMR project:
- ICMR plans to engage non-specialist physicians and other health care workers within a supportive healthcare system for the screening of cancer as well as pre-cancerous conditions.
- This will be a four year project, including six months for preparatory activities and another six months for analysis and interpretation. It will also include formative, implementation, and evaluation phases.
Cancer status in India:
- India currently ranks third in cancer incidence after China and the United States.
- According to Global Cancer Observatory projections, India is expected to witness a substantial 57.5% increase in cancer cases between 2020 and 2040.
- In India, one in nine people are likely to develop cancer in his/her lifetime. Lung and breast cancers were the leading sites of cancer in males and females, respectively. Among childhood (0-14 yr) cancers, lymphoid leukaemia (boys: 29.2% and girls: 24.2%) was the leading site.
- The incidence of cancer cases is estimated to increase by 12.8 per cent in 2025 as compared to 2020.
ICMR Project to Accelerate Cancer Screening at District Level:
- This will be a four-year project, including six months for preparatory activities and another six months for analysis and interpretation.
- It will also include formative, implementation, and evaluation
- The Council is looking at improving the coverage and quality of cancer screening through the existing healthcare system using accepted and validated methods.
- It plans to engage non-specialist physicians and other health care workers within a supportive healthcare system for the screening of cancer as well as precancerous conditions.
Have there been Improvements in Cancer Treatments?
- This can be elucidated by the cure rate for various cancers. For example,
- In the last 50 years, the cure rate for pancreatic cancer has doubled from 3% to 6%.
- It has risen from 60% to 100% for prostate
- Breast cancer survival rates have increased from 50% to 90% thanks to newer treatments.
- However, India’s infrastructure for the seven pillars of cancer care – prevention, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, imaging, laboratory diagnostics, and palliation, is deficient.
Source – Indian Express
