Gastro-Intestinal Cancer is the new silent killer in India, Senior Consultant of CK Birla Hospital – CMRI Dr Sanjay De Bakshi today said.

“We are increasingly seeing diseases that were relatively uncommon in the past. Gastro intestinal Cancer is one such spectrum, where doctors had to evolve in their knowledge to cope with increasing demands. Gastro intestinal cancer is a silent killer that is on the rise,” he said In fact, it is the 5^th most occurring cancer in males and the 7^th in females. So, the seemingly harmless belly ache that happens every now and then and disappears with an anti-acidity pill, might not be that benign at all, if it relapses regularly, Dr Bakshi said.

He said the 21st century has seen massive technological disrupt which has come with a huge price. Owing to unhealthy diet and lifestyle, there is mushrooming incidence of gastro intestinal cancer across India, especially in Eastern India. Consumption of excessive alcohol, red meat, beef, pork or processed meat, junk food and other additional factors like smoking, stress and obesity often lead to Gastro-Intestinal cancer, Dr Bakshi said.

Sooner the patient consults a doctor, the earlier the disease can be investigated via gastroscopy. Early screening can easily diagnose the problem along with correct line of treatment like medication, surgery radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, he said. CMRI Senior Consultant said GI cancer’s treatment landscape in India has improved drastically in the last decade with immense advancement in diagnostic tool, comprehensive expertise, backed by evidence-based research and patient outcome.

Gastro intestinal cancer happens when the Gastro- Intestinal system gets infected by the Helicobacter Pylori virus. It is classified into 5 primary types of cancer, namely Gastric Cancer, Colo Rectal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Pancreatic Cancer, each of which should be detected and treated on time, he said.