‘India has 30% of world’s total eye cancer patients’
23 March 2013 7:10 AM IST
'India has 30 per cent of the world’s total eye cancer patients. Most of the retinoblastoma (eye cancer of retina) patients are very young children with the average age of two at the time of diagnosis,' informed doctors at a seminar on eye cancer, organised by the leading eye care hospital chain, Centre for Sight (CFS) on Friday.
Citing research, doctors at the seminar said that some children with low-risk retinoblastoma who are treated with surgery can safely skip post-surgery chemotherapy without the disease returning or spreading. And those with intermediate or high-risk retinoblastoma can undergo a less aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
Sharing details on eye cancer, Dr Santosh G Honavar, the first formally-trained Comprehensive Ocular Oncologist in India, and director, medical services at CFS said, 'India which has 16 per cent of the world’s population, has the dubious distinction of being home to approximately 30 per cent of the total eye cancer patients in the world, with an estimated 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Unfortunately we do not have the infrastructure and trained manpower to deal with this emerging crisis.'
Dr Santosh G Honavar, Director, Medical Services at CFS said, 'India harbours a big tumour burden but lacks an organised approach to cost-effective and protocol-based management.'
Citing research, doctors at the seminar said that some children with low-risk retinoblastoma who are treated with surgery can safely skip post-surgery chemotherapy without the disease returning or spreading. And those with intermediate or high-risk retinoblastoma can undergo a less aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
Sharing details on eye cancer, Dr Santosh G Honavar, the first formally-trained Comprehensive Ocular Oncologist in India, and director, medical services at CFS said, 'India which has 16 per cent of the world’s population, has the dubious distinction of being home to approximately 30 per cent of the total eye cancer patients in the world, with an estimated 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Unfortunately we do not have the infrastructure and trained manpower to deal with this emerging crisis.'
Dr Santosh G Honavar, Director, Medical Services at CFS said, 'India harbours a big tumour burden but lacks an organised approach to cost-effective and protocol-based management.'
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