Cancer diagnosis and treatment need better reach

By Saliha Nasline

Knowing that one has cancer is a dreadful feeling. However, the misery and pain become manifold when there is delay in confirming the diagnosis and the treatment plan to be given thereafter. In India, this is a common concern as patients and their caregivers have to run around accessing specific diagnostic centres and specialists to help navigate this painful journey.



A study by Gleneagles Global Hospitals along with CubeX shows that the main troubled areas include initial symptom recognition and diagnosis, access to cancer diagnostic tests, multiple diagnostic tests, time taken from diagnosis to confirmation, poor access to oncologists, initiation of treatment and cost of treatment. Also, delay in identifying the signs of cancer at the primary care level delays timely diagnosis and treatment.

Hence, the ability of a general physician (GP) to gauge early signs of cancer and patient awareness is crucial, finds out.