World Cancer Day 2022: Senior Oncologist Dr. Sandeep Nemani Busts Common Myths
India is witnessing a paradigm shift in advanced healthcare delivery. Newer technologies, innovation in the space is gradually changing the face of how we deliver care to patients. However, if we talk about illnesses like cancer, lack of health literacy, social stigmas, and misconceptions around it are a few of the major factors leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Despite advances in the medical field, cancer continues to be perceived as a death sentence amongst the masses. Cancer patients are often subjected to negativity in their lives, leading to unpleasantness and eventual breakdown.
Senior oncologist on the HealthPlix platform Dr. Sandeep Nemani, MD, DM (Haematology), Hematologist, Haemato-oncologist & BMT Physician busts the myths and facts about cancer on World Cancer Day, 2022.
Here are some misconceptions about cancer:
- Myth– Cancer is not curable
Fact– If diagnosed early, most of the cancers are now curable
- Myths– Diagnosis and treatment of cancers is very costly
Fact– Many cancers can be diagnosed by simple clinical examination and basic tests. For financial support, various Government and Non-Government Organizations are available for helping the needy patients
- Myth– Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is an experimental therapy
Fact– BMT is a very effective and curative treatment for blood cancers that are not getting cured by medicines and chemotherapy. This modality of therapy is a boon for various blood disorders (even non-cancerous)
- Myth– Cancer can get transmitted by contact
Fact– Cancer is not an infection and it is not transmitted by contact
- Myth– Blood cancers are the most severe type of cancers, and they never get cured
Fact– Blood cancer is a blanket term that includes leukaemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma. The treatments for blood cancers are so much revolutionized that many of them can be controlled by simple tablets. Many blood cancers are curable now. Even in older patients, life can be prolonged with excellent quality of life
Dr. Sandeep Nemani M.B.B.S., M.D.(Med.), D.M.(Clinical Haematology) (CMC, Vellore) is a Consultant in Haematology, Haemato-Oncologist & Stem Cell Transplant Physician with more than 20 years of experience. He has vast experience in Stem Cell Transplants / Bone Marrow Transplants and has successfully established a Bone Morrow Transplant unit in Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Cancer Hospital, Miraj.