Bikers rally to spread awareness on Cancer

Imphal, 19th March 2018:

Bikers rally to spread awareness on Cancer

18 Bikers and a team of 34 who will cover the 7 states of North East Region to spread cancer awareness arrived at Imphal on 18.3.2018. “Beat Cancer: Run and Ride 2018” by Tata Trusts, Cachar Cancer Hospital and Silchar Thumpers Enfield Club, RIMS, Rotary Club of Imphal, Ruchi, Seva, Phdo in collaboration with the Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV), Tata Motors and National Cancer Grid have been conducting a series of events – street plays, sensitization and educational talks as well as stories of cancer patients.

As a part of this a 5 km run for cancer awareness was held and many students, teachers, bikers and volunteers participated in the run. The run started at the Regional Institute Medical Sciences, Imphal and concluded at the City Convention Centre, Imphal.

RIMS Plastic Surgery HOD, Dr.Sanjib Nepram Said “Beat Cancer: Run and Ride 2018” rally is appreciable as prevalence of cancer is. ‘Our region’s major problem is passive smoking which is on the rise. He appeal to youth and other organizations come forward to deal with these issues. He Said due to cancer, not only the victim but the whole family suffers.

The Ride and Run campaign started from Silchar and covered Shillong, Guwahati, Tezpur, Itanagar, Dibrugarh, Kohima and Imphal. It will now go to Aizwal and Agartala to conclude at Silchar on 22nd March 2018. The riders will cover a total distance of over 2100 kms.

Bikers rally to spread awareness on Cancer

NSS State Coordinator Bimal Said ‘’The North-Eastern Region with a population of approximately 5 crores sees about 45,000 new cancer cases every year of which half are a result of tobacco use.”

Dr Ravi Kannan, Director, Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre and VoTV patron, said, “this rally aims to spread awareness on cancer and the importance of early detection. People often think cancer is not curable but all cancer deaths do not have to be in agony. He added that if tobacco was not there, 50% of all cancers and 90% of oral cancers can be prevented.”

Across India, Aizawl district in Mizoram reported the highest rate of incidence among males, while Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest incidence number among females. Among males, head and neck is the most prevalent form of cancer making up ~40% of the total cases, while among females, head and neck, cervical cancer make up ~20% each and breast cancer makes up another ~15%.

Furthermore, 70% of the cases are reported at the late stage of disease which results in a high mortality rate of 50% in the Northeast. The delayed diagnosis is due to a lack of awareness of cancer symptoms, poor access to affordable care and other psychological factors like fear and fatalism. This rally aims to spread awareness.

The riders interact with people and organizations on the way - at small towns, villages and big cities all across the North East Indian states spreading awareness cancer, risk factors, sign and symptoms, its preventive measures, research aspects and treatment modalities.

Bikers rally to spread awareness on Cancer

Director of Voice of Tobacco Victims Ashima Sarin said, “if we eliminate tobacco 50% of all cancers can be prevented. If anti-tobacco laws are enforced and all educational institutes are made tobacco free, we will be able to prevent our future generations.”

As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) done in in 2009-10 (GATS-1)and 2016-17 (GATS-2), tobacco consumption has gone up in Manipur, Assam and Tripura. In Manipur, the tobacco consumption has increased to 55.1% in GATS-2 from 54.1% in GATS-1; in Assam, tobacco consumption was 39.3% in GATS-1 which increased to 48.2% and in Tripura, it has escalated to 64.5% in GATS-2 from 55.9% in GATS-1.

Dr. Arnie Purushotham, Medical Director- Cancer Care Programme, Tata Trusts said,“Tata Trusts’ purpose is to both support delivery of high quality and affordable cancer care closer to patients’ homes, and also to generate mass awareness about its prevention and early detection. There is a high Incidence of tobacco-related cancers in the North East Region such as Oral and Lung Cancer. Many of these cancers are curable through preventive measures, screening & early detection.

With the need to shift focus from curative to awareness and early detection programmes and thereby increasing chances of a patient’s survival, Tata Trusts have embarked upon several initiatives, from implementing the National Cancer Grid — a network of 126 cancer hospitals in India — along with Tata Memorial Hospital to conducting a proof-of-concept in cross-subsidised screening programmes for certain types of cancers. The Tata Trusts have further partnered with the Government of Assam for development of 17 centres across Assam.