CM launches year-long cancer screening campaign

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launches year-long cancer screening campaign in Kerala to detect and treat cancers early.

The State will, in the next one year, try to identify all those who may be at risk of developing cancers and ensure that they are provided appropriate treatment, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Inaugurating an year-long cancer screening and detection campaign (Ayogyam, Anandam- Keep Cancers Away) organised by the State Health department here on Tuesday, Mr. Vijayan said it was unacceptable that in a highly literate society as Kerala misconceptions about the disease and the financial burden of treatment are preventing people from seeking timely care for cancer .

Cancer cases have been going up globally and mortality due to breast cancer has been rising in Kerala. Many cancers affecting women, especially cancers of the breast and cervix, are amenable to early detection and treatment. Yet these patients reach hospitals at a very late stage when very little can be done to save them.

The campaign has been so designed that women’s cancers will be in focus from February 4 till March 8. During this time the screening drive to detect breast and cervical cancers would be intensified.

Mr. Vijayan said that the government has been doing its best to augment cancer care in the State. It was providing cancer drugs at up to 88% lower cost than the open market price in all districts. Apart from modernising treatment facilities in the major public sector cancer institutions, another 25 government hospitals have also been equipped for providing follow-up treatment.

Steps to provide HPV vaccination against cervical cancer to adolescent girls is progressing.

Breast cancer early screening facilities are being readied in all districts and mammogram and Pap Smear test facilities will be arranged at taluk or district-level hospitals. Already, mammogram screening is available in eight government hospitals.