cancer

Cancer results from a complex interplay of multiple factors, including environmental, lifestyle, and behavioral exposures. While not contagious, certain viruses and bacteria can contribute to cancer development. Known risk factors include:

• Obesity increases the risk of various cancers, including breast, bowel, endometrial, esophageal, pancreatic, kidney, liver, stomach, ovarian, thyroid, myeloma, and brain cancers.
• Age increases cancer risk due to accumulated cell damage and weakened body defenses; with aging, repair mechanisms and immune function may decline, allowing abnormal cells to proliferate, leading to higher cancer incidence in older individuals.
• Radiation exposure, including from radioactive materials, nuclear fallout, and sun exposure, increases cancer risk, with higher doses correlating to greater risk, such as leukemia from nuclear exposure and skin cancer from sun exposure.
• Healthy lifestyle choices like consuming fruits and vegetables reduce certain cancer risks, while diets high in red or processed meats elevate the risk, particularly for bowel cancer. Alcohol consumption also increases the risk of developing certain cancers.
• Nicotine overuse raises the risk of lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, and pancreatic cancers, while exposure to chemicals like asbestos, benzene, and formaldehyde increases cancer risk.

Cancer prevention involves reducing controllable environmental factors, responsible for the majority of common malignancies. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, adopting a balanced diet, staying physically active, limiting alcohol intake, and minimizing exposure to pollution and infections can prevent a significant portion of cancer deaths. However, factors like background radiation and genetic abnormalities are beyond personal control.

Various diagnostic methods for cancer include X-rays, bone scans, lab tests, ultrasounds, nuclear scans, imaging tests such as MRI, CT scans, and PET scans, as well as biopsies via needle, endoscopy, or surgery.

Cancer treatment varies based on cancer type, stage, spread, and overall health, aiming to remove cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, aided by technology.

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Boan Marrow Transplant
• Immunotherapy
• Hormone Therapy
• Taggeted Drug Therapy
• Cryoablation
• Radiofrequency Ablation

Cancer treatment in India is cost-effective, with top hospitals offering affordable packages starting at approximately USD 500 (INR 38,000) to USD 8000 (INR 6,11,000), covering various services.

Treatment	Cost
Chemotherapy	USD 500 - 1000 Approx./ Month
Immunotherapy	USD 8500
Breast cancer surgery	USD 2000 - 4000
Transarterial radioembolization or TARE	USD 30,000
Transarterial chemoembolization or TACE (Trans Arterial chemoembolization)	USD 7000 - 8000