Health hazard

Ranchi, Oct. 25: People of the tribal heartland fall prey to oral and stomach cancers because of their tendency to consume tobacco in the form of khaini and in paan, said Shahdeo Prasad, an expert in cancer research.

A resident of Ramnagar in Hazaribagh district, Prasad is at present working as a research intern at Cytokine Research Laboratory, department of experimental therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, US.

Prasad, 32, said no specific data was available about cancer in Jharkhand. “But it’s increasing at an alarming rate, which the state needs to control, otherwise the condition will worsen,” he said.

In Jharkhand, roadside hotels and dhabas regularly use burnt oil for cooking. “People should avoid such kinds of food. Another obstacle in cancer prevention is rapid urbanisation,” Prasad said. He added that people here aped the western lifestyle by consuming junk food in plenty. “These foods also lead to certain kinds of cancer,” he said.

He added that awareness was required about the benefits of consuming vegetables and natural compounds. “It is important for people to avoid tobacco, alcohol and red meat. People should consume locally available fruits and vegetables to prevent various diseases, including cancer,” he said.

Prasad said a vegetarian diet helps lower the risk of several types of cancers, including prostate, oesophageal, breast and oral cancer.

He added that oral cancer was one of the greatest challenges. “Forty per cent of cancers diagnosed are because of tobacco consumption and tobacco products lead to cancer in the oral cavity, nasal cavity and lungs,” he said.

“Around 2,50,000 tobacco-related cancers are diagnosed each year in India. Approximately 2,200 people die because of tobacco-related oral cancer every day. The highest incidence of oral cancer (tongue) is detected in India and France,” he added.

During his research, Prasad found that daily consumption of alcohol, smoking and junk food often led to oesophageal cancer.

“Thirty per cent to 40 per cent of cancer incidents can be prevented with a healthy diet,” he said.