Public Health Day (English): World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day - Importance of Cancer Screening

A (Dr. Nikita): Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Sangyaan Podcast, an initiative by the Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society. I’m Dr. Nikita, and today we’re talking about something that can truly save lives — cancer screening.

When most of us hear the word “cancer,” we immediately feel scared. We think of long hospital visits, painful treatments, and uncertainty. But today, we want to gently change that narrative and talk about how early detection through screening can actually make a huge difference. Especially today, as we observe World Cancer Day, which reminds us that awareness and early action are some of the strongest tools we have against cancer.

B (Ritika): Hi everyone, I’m Ritika. And Nikita, I think the best place to start is with a very simple question — what exactly is cancer screening?

A: That’s a great question. Simply put, cancer screening means checking for signs of cancer before you feel sick or notice any symptoms. So you might feel perfectly fine, going about your daily life, but small abnormal changes could already be starting inside the body. Screening helps catch those changes early — sometimes even before cancer fully develops.

B: So it’s basically like a preventive check-up, but focused on cancer?

A: Exactly. And that’s the most important part — you don’t wait for pain. Because once symptoms appear, the disease is often already at a later stage.

B: I think this is where many people hesitate. They feel, “I’m okay, nothing hurts, so why should I get tested?” And honestly, there’s also fear of the process itself.

A: True. Many people imagine scary machines, big needles, or painful procedures. But the reality is very different. Most cancer screening tests are actually simple, quick, and not painful at all.

B: Like what, for example?

A: Let’s take oral cancer, which is very common in India because of tobacco and gutkha use. Screening is literally just a doctor or nurse looking inside your mouth with a light — checking for white patches, red sores, or lumps that don’t heal.

B: So no machines, no injections?

A: Nothing. Just a visual check. For cervical cancer in women, many government clinics use a simple swab test, or even a vinegar-based test that shows colour changes instantly. It takes just a few minutes.

B: That actually sounds… very doable.

A: Exactly. And for breast cancer, doctors do physical examinations, and if needed, a mammogram — which is just an X-ray image of the breast to detect very tiny changes.

B: And for men, prostate cancer?

A: There’s a simple blood test called PSA. That’s it. Just one blood sample.

B: I think this part is so important — people avoid screening because they think it will be complicated, expensive, or painful.

A: Yes, but in reality, many of these tests are available free or at very low cost in government hospitals, Mohalla clinics, and health camps.

B: There’s also a big myth people believe — that if doctors touch a lump or take a biopsy, cancer spreads.

A: That’s completely false. Biopsy does not spread cancer. It’s actually the safest way to understand what’s happening and decide the right treatment. Avoiding tests doesn’t protect you — it delays help.

B: Maybe it will help if we talk about common cancers people should actually screen for.

A: Definitely. For women in India, the two most common cancers are breast cancer and cervical cancer. Breast cancer is now the most common cancer among Indian women. But if detected early, more than 90% of women survive and live long, healthy lives.

B: And cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, right?

A: Yes. Because it develops very slowly, screening can catch it before it becomes cancer at all.

B: And for men?

A: Oral cancer and prostate cancer. Especially for people who smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol — oral screening is extremely important.

B: You know, this reminds me of what we saw during COVID. What people did at home — wearing masks, isolating, protecting elders — affected the whole community.

A: Exactly. Public health teaches us one thing very clearly — none of us lives in isolation. Our health choices affect our families, our communities, and our society. Cancer screening is the same. Early detection reduces emotional, financial, and health burdens for everyone around you.

B: But Dr. Nikita, people also fear treatment. They think once cancer is found, life is over.

A: And that’s another myth we need to break. Today, cancer treatments have advanced a lot — with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and even immunotherapy. When cancer is found early, treatment is often shorter, less aggressive, and much more successful. Many people go back to living completely normal lives.

B: So early screening doesn’t just help in diagnosis — it actually makes treatment easier too.

A: Exactly. Early detection means simpler treatment, better recovery, and higher chances of survival.

B: So is there one fixed age when everyone should start screening?

A: Not exactly. It depends on age, family history, and lifestyle. But broadly: breast screening around 40, cervical screening from 25, oral screening for tobacco users, prostate screening after 50. The best step is simply talking to your doctor.

B: So the real message is — don’t wait for pain to start.

A: Exactly. Screening is not about fear. It’s about taking control.

B: It’s about choosing knowledge over silence.

A: And choosing early action over late regret.

B: Because early detection doesn’t just save lives — it saves families, finances, and futures.

A: On this World Cancer Day, let’s make one promise to ourselves — not to wait for symptoms before we care for our health.

B: Get screened. Encourage your parents. Talk to your doctor.

Together: Because when it comes to cancer — early detection truly saves lives.

References:

1. World Health Organization (WHO). Early Cancer Diagnosis. WHO, 2023.
2. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). National Guidelines for Common Cancers: Breast, Cervical and Oral Cancer. ICMR & MoHFW, Government of India.
3. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cancer Screening Overview. U.S. National Institutes of Health.
4. Globocan 2020 / 2023 – IARC (WHO). Cancer incidence and mortality in India.
5. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), MoHFW, India.