PANAJI: As many as 280 patients have registered at the cancer out-patient department (OPD) at Goa Medical College, Bambolim, since it started in the last week of September. Around 25-30% of the cases are breast cancer, said head of the department Dr Anupama Borkar, while cautioning that since it is data of only two-three months it is not sufficient to come to any definite conclusion.“It will take us a year or more to come to say conclusively about any trend,” said Borkar, when asked if there is any trend in the state regarding cancer incidence.While Goa is known to have high incidence of cancer, a concrete study has not been conducted yet. Doctors, however, say that there is a high rate of breast cancer cases in the state.Borkar advised that all women should self-examine their breasts once a month.Those above 40 years of age should get it done from a physician and they should also undergo mammography, she said.Other type of cancers that were prominently seen at GMC’s cancer OPD include those of the head and neck, gastro intestinal (GI) and lung cancers.Mostly the head and neck cancers and lung cancers are linked to tobacco consumption and smoking, said the head of the department. “The incidence of cancer will be down by 30-40% if people give up their addictions and lead a healthy lifestyle,” said Borkar.The cancer OPD is conducted at the GMC every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but awareness about the facility is still quite low.Only about 30% of the patients had heard about the cancer OPD and visited it directly without any reference, the balance are referred by other departments of the hospital , said Borkar.The state government had also announced plans to set-up a full-fledged oncology department and proposal for setting up a cancer centre within the hospital has got Centre’s sanction.Health minister Vishwajit Rane said a file has been moved to chief minister’s office to decide whether the project should be build through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) or Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Ltd (HSCC Ltd).

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