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| CGPWA celebrates Senior Citizen day with talk on cancer | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 22: The Central Govt Pensioners' Welfare Association, Jammu (CGPWA) organised a function last evening to celebrate the 33rd World Senior Citizen Day with talk on dreaded cancer disease.
At a very well attended function, the Principal and HOD of Deptt of Oncology, Govt Medical College, Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta gave an illuminating and informative talk on Cancer which is also a major cause of mortality among senior citizens. He said majority of cases of male cancer are reported from age group of 60 to 80 years and female cases from age group of 40 to 60 years. He said that there are more than 100 types of cancers any part of the body can be affected. Referring to the magnitude of Cancer in India, he said that about 10 lakh new cases are diagnosed annually and about 4 lakh patients die every year.
Dr Ashutosh referred to the growth of cancer in India said that cancer was not among the ten major killer diseases in India at the time of Independence but now it is among the five major killer diseases. Lung cancer and head & neck are among the five top cancers detected among males while breast cancer and cervical cancer are seen mostly among women. He said that lung cancer is the leading killer worldwide with smoking found to be major factor for it. There are 80% lung cancer deaths in men and 75 % in women. He said that smoking, alcohol, iron deficiency/ deficiency in micronutrients, infection with helicobacter pylori and high salt food / high use of smoked food are the major risk factors for cancer.
Speaking on prevention of cancer, Dr Gupta advised to take a low-calorie diet with fruit and vegetables, poultry products and fish, fibrous food, daily intake of 6 to 8 glasses of water, use of vegetable/ olive oil, quality protein, minerals, calcium rich food etc. He cautioned against consumption of a high fat content diet that includes red) and processed meat, sugar rich desserts, high-fat dairy products and fried foods, spicy, very hot, very cold, or highly acidic foods.
Dr. Ashutosh said that the Govt main attention is to create awareness about preventive aspects of the disease which is curable if detected at early stage. He recommended cervical cancer screening of young girls and said that Medical College has launched cervical vaccine for girls in the age group of 12 to 18 years to prevent cervical cancer among women. He said that a State of Art Oncology Department has been established in Medical College with modern cancer treatment facilities including mobile screening.
Dr Ashok Bhan who was the Guest of Honour, extensively spoke on loneliness and social isolation among the elders which are responsible for higher risk for diseases like mental and physical health, quality of life and even mortality. He cautioned the elders that their loneliness & Social isolation and said that it would bring to them avoidable anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, high BP, heart diseases, dementia including Alzheimer and obesity, He suggested wide range of remedies that include mental attitude of not giving up, regular exercises, healthy eating, remain connected with family, friends, engage in some activities or at least join community groups. He narrated a unique activity undertaken by a retired DGP of Mumbai, initially during COVID, of supplying Roti among the patients at their homes but now it is transformed into a Roti Bank.
To the delight of senior citizens, Dr. Bhan picked up Vijay Sambyal, Ashok Sharma Vishishth and Kamal Sharma, known artists and sung the opening 'mukhra' of some old popular songs of fifties to bring home his point that life can be enjoyed despite age. He also helped erasing the 'gloom' that has seemingly descended on the minds of many after hearing about the dreaded disease of cancer.
B R Sharma, State Election Commissioner, in his presidential address, said that getting old is like climbing a mountain and feel out of breath but on reaching the top the view is rewarding. He said that wrinkles on the face of elders would only come where there was smile. "So, there are always twinkle in your wrinkle." Calling senior citizens as Senior Adults, he said that laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.
Sharma said that elders are the target of cyber-crimes and there is need to sensitise them against such frauds by making them technology savvy by holding workshops for them. Commending celebration of the Senior Citizen Day by Pensioners' Association, he said that it is good to note that UT Govt for the first time has greeted senior citizens on the day, indicating that it too recognized the contributions of elders, and listed various measures the Govt has taken for the welfare of these elders.
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