KATHMANDU: Cancer patients are increasing in Nepal lately. This disease can affect any part of the body and at any age. 

Earlier, cancer was an incurable disease. However, if cancer is treated in time, it can be cured. 

With the development of diagnosis, the rate of detection of this disease has also increased.

However, the number of cancer patients has increased in the country. In Nepal, around 3,500 to 5,000 people die from the nose, ear, and throat cancer alone. 

It is estimated that the number of people infected with this disease is around 30,000 annually. 

Nose, ear and throat cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. 

However, according to the data of patients who came for treatment in hospitals in Nepal, head and neck cancer is seen next to lung cancer in men and after uterus and breast cancer in women. 

Khabarhub’s Bina Neupane’s talked to Dr. Roshan Prajapati about the risk of cancer: Excerpts:

Lately, the rate of throat cancer in men has surpassed the incidence of cervical cancer in women. What does this refer to?

Throat cancer is an irregular growth of cells in the body. If it is not controlled in time, the situation will be worse later. It eventually leads to death. 

As with cancer in other parts, it is no different. Nose, ear and throat cancer are the same. 

In such cases, the cells grow irregularly. The cause of cell growth is smoking and alcohol consumption. 

People who consume tobacco products are more likely to develop throat and mouth cancer. 

It is also caused by certain cancer viruses as the HPV virus causes oral cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer. 

In some cases, environmental and genetic factors can also cause cancer. 

Is it true that people who talk more are more likely to have cancer than people who do not? 

Talking a lot does not mean that he/she will be infected by this disease. 

However, it has been found that the main cause of such cancer in us is smoking and moderate drinking. 

If a person works with wood dust, there is a possibility of getting this type of cancer.

So far in Nepal, what kind of people or age group has throat cancer?

Even in childhood, cancer is caused by viruses in some amount. It is more common in people over the age of 40. 

One reason is smoking. This type of cancer is more common in people who are over 40 years old.

How does one know that he/she has throat cancer or what are the symptoms?

Any abnormal symptoms should not be ignored. Sometimes small sores can also lead to cancer. 

In this case, people go to the medical center and buy medicine because they are vitamin deficient. 

Therefore, if a small wound, bleeding from the mouth, it can be a cancer of the nose, ear, throat and mouth. 

Tests should be done with the concerned doctor at regular intervals.

If you don’t go to the hospital in time, what kind of risk can appear later?

Any cancer can be cured by simple surgery if detected early. However, as it gets bigger, it moves away from the operation method. 

It is difficult to heal. Treatment should also include radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and even more expensive therapy, and if left untreated, it will move from one part of the body to another.

If we consult the doctor in the initial stage, how will he/she get the treatment?

If we reach the hospital in the initial state, we will check methodically. If the cancer is confirmed and has not spread in the initial stage, we can cure it completely even with a simple operation. 

After the third and fourth stages, the chances of surgery are very low, and doctors will start giving Chemotherapy.

When will doctors start Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is given as an infusion into a vein. The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in the arm or into a device in a vein in the patient’s chest.

Its function is given to increase the effectiveness of therapy and destroy cancer cells.

When giving Chemotherapy, how long should it be given? Is it based on the condition of the patient?

In the beginning, when Chemotherapy is given 6 times a week, and it is sufficient. 

After stage 4 we can’t cure it completely, so we only give Chemotherapy until it helps. 

Later, if this stops working, Chemotherapy should be changed. 

Can Nepali people afford Chemotherapy in terms of money? 

Currently, the Nepal government has given 1 lakh to cancer patients and if something goes wrong, they will get another Rs 50,000. 

Likewise, Rs 50 thousand and Rs 2 lakh can be obtained from insurance. Therefore, the treatment is not too burdensome.

What should we pay attention to in order to avoid this disease?

First of all, the government should stop the sale and distribution of tobacco products. The only way to avoid this is to stop smoking and chewing tobacco.

What kind of food should be eaten by a patient having throat cancer?

Any cancer patient should eat a nutritious diet. During Chemotherapy, appetite decreases and swallowing becomes difficult in patients with ENT cancer. 

Therefore, one should eat light food. 

Is ENT cancer genetics?

Some percent of it is hereditary. Therefore, people should eat a healthy and nutritious diet, eat food on time, take regular health treatment, and stay away from smoking and tobacco products.