Bengaluru: Dr Hari Menon, Senior Consultant - Haemato-Oncology at Cytecare Hospitals, Bangalore addressed members of Kanara Entrepreneurs at the Grand Magrath Hotel, Bangalore on 'Clearing Myths and Understanding Reality in Cancer.'

Quoting Sir William Osler on medicine being an art, Dr Hari Menon, MD DM, highlighted the importance and necessity of diagnosing and classifying the cancer for successful treatment of any type of cancer. Illustrating this aspect of the study of Medicine with the heterogeneity feature of cancer in its manifestation, Dr Hari Menon narrated the other features of cancer, especially its universality, affecting people across the world; its pandemic proportion, not being confined to any particular human race and its propensity to affect any age-group.

With relevant facts, Dr Menon cleared several common misconceptions that people generally associate with cancer, including it being an insufferable condition equated with pain and invariably death, and said “It is just like any other disease known to man. One must never judge a patient just by age. Elderly patients are not too old to receive treatment for cancer. If one member of a family has cancer, it cannot be assumed that all the other family members are at risk to develop it. If diagnosed with cancer, treatment need not always be started as an emergency, sometimes, it would be prudent to give time to diagnose and classify the cancer before commencing treatment.”
Some of the other myth-breaking information he shared were not as heart-warming. “As only about 10% of cancers are co-related with hereditary factors, even those with no family history can get cancer. Addiction to smoking or use of tobacco products does not, by itself cause cancer, but it facilitates and significantly increases the risk of cancer and so those not addicted to such habits cannot claim themselves to be safe from developing cancer. Treatment does not always cure cancer,” he said.

He stated factors that facilitate or promote or predispose development of cancer - Smoking (around 35%), Obesity (around 20%), Sedentary life (around 5%), Hereditary factors (around 10%), Diet and environmental factors.

While stressing on the importance of early detection, he informed that cancer burden in India is on the rise. In 2016, in India, there were 14.5 lakhs new cancers. Only about 12.5% cases are of early stage detections. The projections for the year 2020, in India, is even more alarming with the figure predicted to reach 17.5 lakhs new cancers and 8.8 lakhs death due to it.
Earlier, Dr Anthony Pais, MS (General Surgery), FICS (Surgical Oncology) also a lead member of Kanara Entrepreneurs, presented to the audience the mission and objective and the various facilities and services offered by Cytecare Hospitals, a super-speciality centre for cancer treatment. Dr Anthony Pais, a Senior Consultant – Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is also the co-founder and Clinical Director at Cytecare Hospitals.

During his video presentation, he impressed upon the audience some of the unique and pioneering features of the Hospital in the field of cancer care and treatment. The Leadership Team and Management of the Hospital is comprised of a group of highly experienced and professional doctors and engineers. The centre offers personalised cancer treatment through organ-site focused systems and practices administered by organ based Specialist Oncologists.

Keeping itself abreast of Technological advancement in cancer diagnosis and treatment, he informed that Cytecare has some of the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipments, that significantly helps in early and precise detection of cancer and facilitates better reach and treatment. Emphasizing the importance of the right approach in successful treatment of cancer Dr Anthony Pais informed that Cytecare believes in 'Fighting Cancer the right way'.

Peter Anil Rego, in his Presidential address, stressed upon the need to have both, goals and plans, to achieve success in any venture. Quoting the insightful line, 'If you don’t know where you are going, any road will lead you there', he compared goals without plans to a bullet without powder in the cartridge, an empty shell without any power or force. Besides, to achieve the goals one needs to know one’s target, else it would be akin to shooting in the air. He emphasized the need to have clear plans to achieve the goals, else they would just be hopes and wishes.

Before welcoming and thanking the two Speakers who were due to address the audience, Dr Anthony Pais and Dr Hari Menon, in line with the agenda for the day’s meeting on the subject related to health, he specifically encouraged members to set goals and plans in the area of fitness and health as 'Health is Power.'

Seven new members were inducted by Naveen D’Souza, director-membership and installed by Peter Anil Rego, president. The newly inducted members were Manoj Roshan Rodrigues, Rachna Rego, Steeven Francis D’Souza, Sunil D’Cunha, Cyril Nandan Nazareth, Neethan Francis D’Souza and Austine Crasta.

The Lucky Draw of the meeting was won by Clarence Pereira. The vote of thanks was given by Ajay Fernandes. The meeting concluded with a fellowship dinner. The meeting, emceed by Dr Joe Rasquinha, began with all members observing a moment of silence to pay tribute to the family members of two KE Members who had passed away recently.