Press Release

World Cancer Day: Care-givers to take centre stage

RCC organises Cancer Patients and their Family programme on February 4 Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 To give voice to the less-talked-about group of
care-givers in the whole spectrum of cancer care, the internationally recognised Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here is conducting a programme called Cancer Patients and their Family at 9.30 a.m., at RCC Conference Hall on February 4, the World Cancer Day. Cancer requires protracted care and management, necessitating commitment from not just patients and physicians, but also care-givers. The programme will address the psychosocial, financial and physical aspects of cancer treatment, said Director of RCC Dr.Paul Sebastian, who will also deliver the inaugural address. A seminar covering aspects of cancer and its care is one of the highlights of the halfday long programme. It will discuss areas including Cancer Prevention, Counselling and its importance in Cancer Care, Home Care for Cancer Patients and Patient Support and Palliative Care. Surgical Oncologist, RCC, Dr.Paul Augustin; Retd.Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Kerala University Dr.Krishnaprasad Sreedhar; Medical Officer, Palliative Care Department, RCC, Dr.Prasanth; and Chief Nursing Officer, RCC, Smt. Sreelekha will handle the sessions. A group of diseases with similar characteristics, cancer is one of the four global noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), along with cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that NCDs kill more than 36 million people each year. In Kerala, it is estimated that as many as 35,000 new cancer cases occur in a year. Environmental exposure including lifestyle factors cause 70-90 per cent of all cancers. The single largest preventable and modifiable lifestyle factor is tobacco. Tobacco consumption, both chewing and smoking, is a major cancer causing factor and contributes to 50 per cent of all cancers in men and 15 per cent among women of Kerala. An Open Forum will follow, in which care-givers and family members can freely interact with RCC experts.

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