A renowned US oncologist has warned that India will face a 'tsunami' of serious diseases like cancer due to globalization, growing economy, population, and changing lifestyles. To deal with it effectively, he has emphasized the use of technology-based medical techniques.
Vaccines, artificial intelligence (AI), and the expansion of digital technology for the prevention and treatment of cancer and diagnosis with 'liquid biopsy', Dr. Jem Abraham, chairman of the department of hematology and medical oncology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, US, has said. Here are six trends that will reshape cancer treatment this century.
In an article in the 'Manorama Year Book 2023', Abraham said the other three trends are 'genomic profiling', the development of gene editing technologies, and the use of next-generation 'immunotherapy' and 'CAR T cell therapy'.
He has said, “Digital technology, information technology, and telehealth will reduce the gap between patients and specialists. This will potentially increase the availability of specialist care in remote parts of our country, including the rural areas where the majority of our population resides."
He said the biggest challenge before India would be how to make it affordable and accessible to millions of its people when these technologies will revolutionize cancer care. The oncologist warned, "India will face a tsunami of serious diseases like cancer due to globalization, growing economy, population and changing lifestyles."
According to the estimates of international agencies, due to demographic changes, the number of cancer patients worldwide is expected to be 28.4 million in 2040, which will be 47 percent more than in 2020. This number may increase with the increase in risk factors associated with globalization and a growing economy. In the year 2020, there were an estimated 1.93 crore new cases of cancer worldwide and about one crore people died due to cancer.
