Committed to providing best possible treatment for serious diseases: Gujarat govt
Gandhinagar, August 1
Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the leadership of Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya, the State Government is committed to providing the best possible treatment for serious diseases, including cancer, according to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office.
According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 report, more than 1.12 lakh new lung cancer cases and over 98,000 deaths are estimated in India every year. Globally, around 26 lakh new cases and more than 18 lakh deaths are reported annually, making lung cancer the deadliest form of cancer worldwide.
The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI), Ahmedabad, has recorded a steady rise in lung cancer cases over the past five years. GCRI registered 813 patients in 2021, 865 in 2022, 933 in 2023, 1,086 in 2024, and 1,133 in 2025, taking the total to 4,830 patients. Of these, 3,931 (81.4%) were men and 899 (18.6%) were women.
The major risk factors for lung cancer include smoking bidis, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, passive smoking, air pollution, and prolonged exposure to harmful industrial chemicals such as asbestos. Symptoms like a persistent cough, coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, chest pain, voice changes, or sudden weight loss should not be ignored. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical advice immediately.
Established in 1972, the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI) provides advanced treatment for lung cancer patients. The institute is equipped with robotic surgery, PET-CT, 3 Tesla MRI, 128-slice CT Scan, bronchoscopy, and advanced radiation therapies such as CyberKnife, TrueBeam, and TomoTherapy. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are also available free of cost or at subsidised rates under government schemes such as PMJAY-MA, the CMO said.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Since its early symptoms are often mild or non-specific, many cases are diagnosed late. However, greater awareness, complete tobacco cessation, timely screening, and advanced treatment can significantly improve survival and save lives.
To raise public awareness, the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI) has urged citizens with the message, "Quit Tobacco, Save Your Lungs - Get Screened Early, Save Life."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The 81.4% male patients statistic is shocking but not surprising. Bidi and cigarette smoking is so common among men in our villages and cities. My father-in-law smokes 2 packets a day despite our constant nagging! The government should focus more on awareness campaigns in rural areas, not just Ahmedabad. Also, air pollution in our cities is a silent killer too.
Good to see healthcare infrastructure being upgraded. I lost my younger brother to lung cancer in 2020 because we discovered it at stage 4. If there was more awareness about early screening back then, maybe he would have survived. This "Quit Tobacco, Save Your Lungs" message is needed everywhere - schools, colleges, factories. Better late than never.
Appreciate the government's commitment but we need more than just statements. The cost of cancer treatment in private hospitals is astronomical - even with PMJAY, the poorest families struggle. I hope GCRI's free/subsidised treatments actually reach the common man without unnecessary paperwork. Also, the government should ban public smoking more strictly - air pollution from traffic is equally dangerous. 🚭
My grandmother was treated at GCRI for breast cancer and they handled everything so well. But lung cancer is more deadly - the symptoms like persistent cough and weight loss are often ignored as simple seasonal changes. Especially in smaller cities like Rajkot and Surat, people don't know about PET-CT or advanced radiation. The government should setup awareness camps across Gujarat, not just Ahmedabad hospitals.
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