Cancer treatment in India.

Disease cancer is still one of the largest causes of death all across the globe. It does not discriminate among the developed,under developed or developing nations. 
Let us understand the occurrence of cancer among the global population. 
At CMCS Health , our endeavor is to ensure good health for all by creating awareness about health issues, medical conditions and treatment options available.
We keep on highlighting what India has to offer to global medical traveler seeking specialized medical treatment off shore.

Cancer prevalence in United States of America:

As per American cancer society facts and figures annual report 2012 the most common cancers occurring in US population are Skin cancers. Skin cancers can be both melanomas and non melanomas. Most of the Non melanomas can be cured but melanoma cancers are difficult to treat,although they are small in numbers in comparison but accounts to almost 75% death in US among skin cancer affected population.
The other leading cancer found in American population is Lung cancer and Smoking is contributed as single largest causative factor for disease.
It is estimated that 1 in 6 american men will be diagnosed with Prostate cancer in their life time. Apart from skin cancer ,prostate cancer is most commonly diagnosed among american male population and second most fatal cancer.
Breast Cancer is most commonly diagnosed cancer among american women and second most fatal after lung cancer in american females.
Colo rectal cancer is not gender dependent, it affects both men and women. It affects american population and accounts to almost 9% deaths among all cancer related deaths in America.
Smoking, obesity and hypertension are marked as leading causes for Renal or Kidney cancers.
Bladder cancer,Non Hodgkin's lymphoma,Thyroid cancer, Endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancers and leukemias also affect american population and deaths are reported because of them.

Cancer Prevalence in Germany:

As per the German cancer research center ,Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death among German men affected by cancer and breast cancer is leading cause of death among cancer affected German Women.The second leading cause of death for both men and women in Germany is Colo rectal Cancer among cancer related deaths in Germany population.
Pancreatic ,stomach and Ovarian cancers accounts maximum cases of Cancer in German population.

Cancer Prevalence in Nigeria:

Coming to African Continent let us start with Nigeria, referred as giant of Africa because of being most populous and largest economy in African region, Ironically Nigerian economy is ranked as 20th largest economy in world but according to a published report  by Prevalence and Pattern of Cancers among Adults Attending a Tertiary Health Institution in Lagos, Nigeria ."the burden of cancer in Nigeria is unknown, mainly because of lack of statistics or under reporting.
As per the published report presently, there are 11 cancer registries in Nigeria, located in various tertiary hospitals.
The six most common cancers in Nigeria in descending order of frequency are breast, cervix, prostate, colo rectal, liver cancer and Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and and data obtained from various parts of the country show that cancer incidence is increasing with female cancers leading and increasing incidence has been attributed to lifestyle change and poor awareness about risk factors."
Many Nigerian Guests come to India for cancer treatment because of globally at par treatment facilities and low cost of treatment. It is unfortunate that by the time they reaches India their cancer is in an advanced stage and treatment options are very much reduced.There needs to be a better co ordination among the diagnostics and referring centers and doctors in Nigeria and treating Indian Doctors and Indian hospitals for better treatment outcome.

Cancer prevalence in Tanzania:As per Foundation for cancer care in Tanzania ,"In Tanzania, there are only two cancer treatment centers to serve the entire population of 40 million people. These two clinics have capacity to serve only about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 new cancer cases each year. For many of the patients who manage to receive treatment, their cancers have already metastasized to the point that administering palliative care becomes the only remaining option.


The five regions that make up the Northern Healthcare Zone of Tanzania see well over 5,000 new cases of cancer every year, but the zone has no designated cancer care facilities. Lack of cancer education, screening services and detection methods means that northern Tanzanians often don’t discover cancer until it is too late. For those patients who could seek treatment, the costs of travel to faraway hospitals and treatment with expensive drugs are often out of the question.

• The most common cancers are Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Esophageal.
• Uterine cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer, and ultimately the highest cause of cancer death, for women in Africa.
• There is a 69% mortality rate for women diagnosed with cervix cancer in Eastern Africa.
• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in Africa and is often not diagnosed until it is in an advanced stage due in large part to lack of screening and early detection, and thus is fatal for 56% of the women diagnosed.
• Some common Cancers in Tanzania are linked to infectious agents,which means they are potentially preventable.Educating the population on how to prevent infections with causative agents and wider accessibility of relevant vaccines could dramatically reduce cancer rates in Tanzania. More ever many of the most common cancers in Tanzania are highly curable if detected early,screening and early detection programs could vastly improve survival rates and improve quality of life for cancer patients in North Tanzania."

  Cancer prevalence in Kenya:

As per Kenya Network of cancer organizations,

"Cancer is the 3rd highest cause of morbidity in Kenya , after infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Leading Cancers in Kenya:

 The leading cancers in Kenyan women are breast and cervical cancer,where as Kenyan men suffer most from Prostate and Esophageal cancer.

Like anywhere in Africa,majority of cancers in Kenya are diagnosed late due to unawareness and lack of diagnostics facilities and lack of treatment centers.

There are 4 centers in Kenya which have radiation facilities and they are all in national capital region Nairobi-KNH,MP Shah,Nairobi Hospital and Aaga Khan Hospital."

The centers are not adequately staffed to cater to need of ever increasing Kenyan cancer patients.

A government initiative about early screening and involvement of health insurance companies operating in Kenya can bring a turnaround in present scenario.

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Cancer prevalence in Oman:

After Kuwait ,Sultanate of Oman has become the second gulf country to have it's data included in the International agency for research on cancer (IARC) Publications.
As per International Agency for research on cancer, "Oman is facing an almost two-fold increase in cancer incidence in the period 2008-2020. As observed in many countries, Oman is challenged by the ageing population and increased cancer risks largely due to the lifestyle changes."

The ten most common cancers prevailing in men,among the Oman population in decreasing orders can be listed as,Stomach cancer,Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Prostate cancer,Leukemia,Lung and bronchus Cancer, Primary Liver cancer,Bladder Cancer,Brain and Nervous System cancers,Hodgkin disease and Colon Cancer.

Whereas The Female Oman population is affected more with Cancers of Breast,Cervical and Uterine,Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Stomach.Thyroid,Leukemia,Ovaries,Bronchus and Lungs,Liver and connective tissues.

At present the incidence of Cancer is not high in Oman as compared to other regions but it is expected to rise because of ageing population and life style changes.

Prevalence of Cancer in Iraq:

The worst hit among the middle eastern countries when it comes to cancer prevalence is Iraq.

Years of war,stress associated with uncertainty of war and poor governance,Usage of unsafe products in agricultural and fishing segments have caused havoc in health related issues of Iraqi citizens residing in southern province of Basra , Muthana , Dhi Qar and Missan governorates.

Leukemia and Breast cancers have risen dramatically in the region.

With non availability of proper diagnostic centers and lack of treatment facilities are causing many deaths among the local population.

As per  "Breast cancer incidence among Iraqi women profiled."

Dr.Nada A.S. Alwan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Breast Cancer Research Unit at Baghdad University Medical College and the executive director of the newly established Iraqi National Cancer Research Program, 

"Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy recorded in the cancer registries of almost all countries within the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Iraq, the continuous rise in the incidence rate is associated with an obvious trend to affect premenopausal women." 

As per a research article published in BMC women's health about Breast cancer in Kurdish women of Northern Iraq , " Breast cancer in middle east occur in relatively young woman and frequently presents as an advanced disease."

Better awareness about breast cancer among kurdish population in North Iraq and early screening may pave way for better treatment outcome for breast cancer patients of the region.

Another cancer that has higher incidence rate among the iraq population specially from Basra province is childhood leukemia.

The most common among childhood leukemia is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).It is a kind of blood cancer where bone marrow produces too many immature white blood cells.

Leukemia may affect RBCs and platelets too.

The Aim of treating childhood Leukemia is to destroy leukemia cells and enable the bone marrow to produce normal cells again.

Usually a combination of chemotherapy drugs are given along with steroids to treat leukemia.

The treatment of leukemia is multiphasic like Induction,consolidation and CNS treatment,maintenance treatment and bone marrow transplants.

 Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is considered only for those children where the treating hematologist feels the chances of recurrence are high or for relapsed disease after the standard chemotherapy-steroids treatment.

At CMCS Health we are associated with best Best BMT specialist doctors and well equipped hospitals for successful BMT for our global guests.

Cancer Prevalence in Afghanistan:

The most common cancer in Afghanistan are breast cancer among the female population followed by cervix ,uterine and Ovarian cancer.

Hematological malignancies (Blood cancer) like hodgkin Lymphoma,Non Hodgkin lymphoma,multiple myeloma and adult and pediatrics leukemia.

Head and neck cancers ( Lip,oral cavity,Larynx and Thyroid Cancers) are also common.

Stomach and esophageal cancers are also present among the population.

Skin Cancers( Melanoma) and pancreatic and liver cancers are also reported among the Afghan Population.

Indian Hospitals  and Indian Doctors are quite capable of Screening, and treating cancer for Global patients but still cost although lower than many centers in world will still be a hindrance.
Awareness among the general populations,an early screening and involvement of Health insurance companies can play a big role in better treatment outcome of Global guests seeking Cancer treatment in India.