Shridhar University Pilani Rajasthan - World Cancer Day 2012

Online, February 12, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The growths often invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize to distant sites. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke. At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer.

In addition, a significant proportion of cancers can be cured, by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early and these methods are known to have their own side effects. Nobel Laureate Ralph M Steinman pioneered "Dendritic Cell Therapy - DCT" which aims to treat and diagnose cancer by immunotherapy is gaining prominence in recent times.

Shridhar University Pilani has a rich tradition of observing various events of national and international importance on a regular basis and continuing the same World Cancer Day was observed on 04 Feb 2012. The global theme for 2012 is "Together it is possible" because it is only by every person, organization, government individually doing their part that the world will be able to reduce premature deaths from cancer and other Non Communicable Diseases - NCDs by 25% by 2025.

Each year, over 12.7 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die from the disease. If no action is taken, the worldwide cancer burden is expected to reach 26 million new diagnoses and 17 million deaths by the year 2030, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Although cancer rates in India today are said to be lower than those seen in Western countries but are rising with increasing migration of rural population to the cities, increase in life expectancy and changes in lifestyles. However, rates for oral and esophageal cancers in India are among the top ranking in the world.

The World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF / AICR) continuously review and assess the body of evidence on diet, physical activity and cancer. Their recommendations for Cancer Prevention include: Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight, Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day, Avoid sugary drinks and Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fibre, or high in fat), Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and pulses such as beans, Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats and Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).

Rajiv (Raj) Gupta, MD, PhD Director of Ultra-High-Resolution Volume CT Lab and Site Miner for the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA on the occasion of World Cancer Day conveyed the following message to the faculty and students of Shridhar University, Pilani. "I congratulate and fully support Shridhar University Pilani for taking up the cause of spreading cancer awareness to public at large. In early 1970s, President Nixon had declared the War on Cancer and the war is still raging on. Cancer robs societies of countless men, women, and children, many in the prime of their lives. It is a scourge that we can fight on many fronts, starting from life-style changes, to public education and awareness, to high technology, to advanced medicine. 25% decrease by 2025 is a worthy and ambitious goal and will require engagement on all these fronts."

In addition to MD from Cornell, Rajiv also holds a MS and PhD from State University of New York and MSc(Hons) Physics BE(Hons) Electrical & Electronics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani. He has over a dozen patents to his credit and has won many laurels which include several awards from GE and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) as well as the coveted Stanley Wyman award.

Highlighting the above details, Prof BR Natarajan Pro Vice Chancellor Shridhar University Pilani shared the World Cancer Declaration and urged the faculty and students to carry the message of importance of cancer prevention to the public at large.