Cancer-Free Drive in Rural India: Constituency Wise Initiatives by Member of Legislative Assembly

Background and context: Reducing the rate of cancer through awareness and prevention programs as well improvements in screening and treatment techniques is paramount. Citizen especially in rural India tend to neglect health due to routine chores of family life. The nonavailability of facilities worsen the issue. Tobacco habits leads to potentially malignant disorders and oral cancers. There is increasing trend of breast cancer, uterine and cervical cancers and also oral cancers. In India oral cancers are main cancers in males. Member of legislative assembly is public representative to represent state of Maharashtra. Cancer Free Constituency Drive was for creating awareness and screening for villagers. Katol is a rural constituency. There are 288 constituencies in Maharashtra state. Aim: 1) To create public awareness of all types of cancers. 2) To provide diagnosis and investigations and treatment to affected population. 3) Capacity building of young medical and dental professionals in cancer diagnosis and paramedical workers in screening all types of cancers. Strategy/Tactics: 72,056 house visits by 220 Asha workers and 129 nursing students and 30 dental interns to sensitize about 3,00,000 people through well designed brochure for all cancers. Self-Mouth mirror examination was designed for oral cancers and awareness against tobacco. The persons with complaints were told to visit camps on scheduled dates at 10 primary health centers. Program/Policy process: The mammography facilities and Papanicolaou test examination, dental examination in mobile vans and self-mouth mirror examination for oral cancers with trained professional carried out diagnosis in 10 primary health centers with the help of experts in medical and dental professionals. Suspeced cases were referred to tertiary referral medical hospitals. Outcomes: 5100 (males 2216 and females 2954) with complaints visited. Total 813 patients suspected to have cancers were examined by specialists from gynecology(84) general surgery (374) otorhinolaryngology (77) pediatrics (37) dermatology (19) and dentistry (131). 38 abnormal on mammography in 132 females, 55 abnormal reports from Pap smears in 472 females were evaluated, however no cancer detected in three months span. Twelve cases of oral cancers were detected and treated. Six breast cancers were detected and treated. Seven other cancers were reported by medicine and pediatric specialists. 150 cases of potentially malignant disorders were also identified. 90 had the oral submucous fibrosis (inability to open the mouth) caused due to areca quid chewing. The self-mouth mirror examination helped to create awareness against tobacco. What was learned: Awareness of cancer leading to early detection and treatment is possible in rural areas through “Cancer-Free Constituency”. The concept will help to pave the way for improved strategies and policies to better control occurrence and treatment of cancer and to address tobacco related health disparities across cancer care continuum.