Cancer looting more lungs.
Food items prepared with liberal constituents of
preservatives and artificial colours, growing addiction to
tobacco and galloping atmospheric pollution levels are
three main reasons for the people of Kolkata becoming more
vulnerable to the incidence of lung cancer in recent years.
Incidentally lung cancer is considered the most dangerous
of all types of cancers, as it cannot be diagnosed in the
initial stages.
This was revealed by a study conducted by the radiotherapy
department of SSKM Hospital at Kolkata, India. Out of 2267
cancer patients treated by the department in 2005, 330
persons had been diagnosed with lung cancer which ranked
second only to cancer of the head-neck variety with 350
patients.
Even in the late 80’s lung cancer occupied the fifth
position in terms of numbers. The phenomenal growth in
cases of lung cancer is attributed to changing food habits
with more people settling for junk food, smoking and
environmental pollution. Chemical ingredients used in
cooking junk food include artificial colors, cooking oil
and carcinogenic materials present in preservatives.