The Meek Inherit Cancer
In the absence of any recent data on cancer incidence, Down To Earth conducted a survey of two Delhi localities to see the difference in how cancer is affecting the rich and the poor. Two things were considered:
l It was important to go and speak to general practitioners about cancer incidence in their area of practice as oncologists deal only with cancer cases and would not be able to tell if there was some real difference in terms of percentage.
l The two localities were selected based on their sociocultural profiles. The first is inhabited by people relatively well off, if not rich, and the other has poorer sections of the society.
The survey was conducted among 20 physicians each in Greater Kailash, a posh south Delhi colony, and Gobindpuri, which has a lot of industrial labourers. An elaborate questionnaire was formulated for them. The conclusions of the survey are as follows:
l The percentage of cancer cases among the total number of patients, as reported by the general practitioners surveyed, was higher in Gobindpuri (150 people per 100,000) than in and around Greater Kailash (110 people per 100,000) despite the fact that diagnostic facilities would be better available to people in Greater Kailash.
l In both the localities, more than half the general practitioners with 10 years' experience or more in the same area said they had noted a rise in the number of people reporting with cancer, although they were not sure about the causes.
l All the doctors refer patients to cancer hospitals, which is surely a positive sign.