The Earlier - The Better

The Earlier - The Better

Prevention is always better than cure. But sometimes some diseases can't be prevented. In those cases earlier diagnosis is key for better prognosis.

Some mishaps can't be eradicated like road traffic accidents which are an external force causing injury. In the same way, Cancer is like an accident happening internally, during cell divisions which can't be eradicated. Cancer is going to be humankind's number-one killer. Most of the killing cancers can be prevented with resources and knowledge which is already available. But at least 40 % of the time cancers will be detected at later stages, by that time, cancer staging will be crossing stage 1 and the best option of surgical removal will be obliterated and has to complement with chemotherapy and radiotherapy which has serious side effects along with hefty financial burden and serious psychological impact.

Even with the best of the best treatment modalities can't give life back as it was before. Among all cancers in Indian women, incidence of breast cancers alone is 28.8% and taking the first place followed by cervical cancers amounting to 10.6%. The World Health Organization took the initiative strongly and all the health organizations oriented to promote earlier diagnosis. The major roadblocks for the earlier diagnosis is lack of awareness on symptoms, lack of knowledge on when to get screening for cancers, lack of experienced doctors in rural areas to stress and educate on screening procedures and lack of resources.

Still many Tier 2 and 3 cities don't have mammography setups which is a gold standard test for breast cancers. Simple pap smear test will give diagnosis or guidance to further follow up. Majority of the time the peripheral doctors never even suggest to their female patients to get their pap smear done and they won't even bother about educating if they come to their office with other symptoms. Collectively every stakeholder should prompt the women to undergo Pap smear and educate them regarding preventive ideology.

SUITS took an initiative to screen one hundred thousand women in 100 days to impart preventive ideology and the importance of early diagnosis. Hopefully, our contribution creates some change in landscape of women healthcare in India.