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A Report on
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Cancer Control
Programme Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) India
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Organised from
25th April to 25th July 2002
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A Project of
Cancer Detection Society of India (C.D.S.I.) & Tibetan Medical &
Astro Institute (T.M.A.I)
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| Cancer Detection Society of India is a
charitable organization. The objectives are to address the cause of cancer,
care of cancer patients and concern of the community. |
| To control and contain cancer incidence
the society organises various programmes to create awareness followed by
free cancer detection camps. |
| Himachal cancer relief is one of such progammes
which was launched on 25th April 2002 for 3 months at Dharamsala for Tibetan
Refugees and rural people of the region. |
| In our endeavour, we have incorporated
the application of Tibetan Medicine in the treatment of detected cases in
our free cancer camps organised daily at Tibetan Medical Institute, (Men-Tsee-
khang). |
| The detected and diagnosed cases received
Tibetan medicines and Cancer Society of India monitored its effect on the
patients. |
| In all 30 positive cases was detected.
The Tibetan medicines were distributed free. The response of the drugs were
recorded on a special designed proforma. The study made is very encouraging.
The problems faced and risk factors are mentioned in the inference of this
report. |
| The study carried out can be more meaningful
if the medicines are distributed free on follow ups and reach to disadvantaged
and patients at their doors. The terminal cases need Hospice services for
the dressing of their wounds, blood & fluid infusions,care of feeding
tubes and management of various stomas. |
| Recommendations: |
"HOSPICE SERVICES"
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A Hospice of 5 to 10 beds is an urgent
need to take care of advanced and terminal cancer cases. It shall
provide us useful and longer follow-up as well as prognostic evaluation
of the patients under Tibetan Medicines.
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The Cancer Detection Society of India
has been allotted land at Rakkar village for Hospice services and
admission facilities for the management of needy patients.
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| Cancer has existed as a dreaded disease
all along with man kind. Hippocrates, twenty five thousand years ago, called
it "KARKINOIS", because it resembled claws of crab. Susruta described
cancer as a tumour which would ulcerate and would not cure, and "sow
it seeds in other parts of the body". In recent years it has become
a very common problem in India where half a million new cases are recorded
every year. There are 70 million cancer cases in the world out of which
7 million are detected in India. 125 cases of cancer, pre-existing and new,
are recorded everyday in various centres of Delhi alone. |
| Although the exact cause of cancer is still
not very clearly defined, tobacco chewing, smoking combined with alcohol
consumption are recognised as principle predisposing factors in oral cancer.
In addition smoked chicken, mutton and fish are known to cause the nasopharyngeal
malignancies common in Nagaland and Mizoram. Air pollution, use of chemicals
and pesticides act as a direct cause of cancer. |
| Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GIT) cancers involving
oesophagus, the stomach and liver are common in the Tibetan population of
Dharamsala. Oesophageal cancers are also common in Kashmiris. These factors,
alongwith vitamin deficiencies, lead to the high incidence of oesophageal
inflammation, and a predisposition to cancer. |
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During periods of stress, a similar modality
is observed in GIT. Stress is known to cause ulcers in the GIT, which
are further activated by promotors scuh as fatty and fried foods, alcohol,
chillies, animal fats and tobacco. Thus stress acts as an initiator which
damages the cell and promotes a change in the pattern of cell transformation
into non-healing ulcers predisposed to cancer. We have incorporated our
stress findings particularly in Tibetan population, since this population
endures constant stress due to their refugee status .
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In our survey and study we have found
that the Hepatitis type B&C are known to cause Liver Cirrhosis and
cancer. We have also found history of this infection in almost all cases
of liver cancer. The Hepatitis type B is 5 % in India and far more common
than type C. Alcohol consumption is prohibited for a period of 2-3 yers
for the recovery of the damaged liver cells . If cirrhosis sets in, alcohol
is forbidden. The lack of awareness and education about this single factor
contributes in both the rich and poor and educated and uneducated populations
to a predisposition of liver cancer.
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There is an increasing acceleration in
health reforms at national and international level. The various systems
and disciplines in medicines are active besides their limitations in preventing
and containing the disease.
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Allopathy is quite a new system of medicine
in comparison to many indigenous disciplines e.g. Tibetan, Ayurved, Homeopathy
and Unani. Inspite of the advanced and developed technology in detection
and diagnosis, the allopathy system still remains answerable in curing
cancer. Therefore, the conventional indigenous systems still remain collateral
and contemporary choice in the treatment of cancer. Tibetan medicine has
established its superiority in the existing alternative systems of medicine.
The Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang) runs five
years medical school course, which still needs recognition all over the
world.
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| There are various health agencies working
on cancer control in India and abroad. The Cancer Detection Society of India
has began a cancer control programme with state governments in order to
address the problems at country level according to epidemieological, social
and economical situation. This comprehensive approach addresses the burden
of cancer and defines priority intervention within the areas of prevention,
treatment & palliative care. Thus the mission offers most rationale
of cancer even where resources are severely limited. |
| Himachal Cancer Relief is one of such an
attempt at state level. A project of the society launched in Aug. 1997 at
Manali covering Chindi Village in Mandi District, Kufri in Shimla and Kotbeja
village in Solan. |
| To cover Dharmsala and its adjacent urban
rural, rural and Tibetan population a project proposal was sent to Shri
Prabodh Saxena, Dy. Commissioner and Mr. Samdup Lhatse, the Director of
Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institue, Dharamsala. The project was titled
as " Cancer Control Programme, Dharamsala" (A joint venture of
Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institue and Cancer Detection Society of
India) |
| The purpose was identified to achieve; |
- Cancer Control by early detection
- Role of Tibetan medicine in containing
the disease.
- To establish a Hospice to provide comfort,
quality and dignity in life
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| The project was accepted and agreed for
three months from 25th April to 25th July 2002. |
| The Venue : Tibetan Medical and Astrological
Institue, Dharamsala. |
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The
Concept of Tibetan Astro Science
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| Tibetan Astro Science is an art of calculation
and interpretation of celestial phenomenon. It is classified in two categories
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| A |
Elemental Astrology |
| B |
Astronomy |
| Both of
the systems have been drawn from the teachnigs of neighbouring countries
such as India, China, Persia and Greece in synthesis with the tenets
of Budhism to create a unique Tibetan System. |
| A |
Elemental Astrology
: The practitioners of Bon, one of Tibet's ancient religion, acknowledged
the five elements earlier and used a system of astrological prediction
and divination based on tribal Indian Tantric practice, animism and
early forms of Budhism. |
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During the 7th century
A.D. first grade Tibetan king, Songtsen second name Gampo's 5th wife
was a Chinese princess and was an accomplished astrologer and a deout
Buddhist, introduced many books on elemental astrology and medicine
from China. Thus Tibetan astrological principles were strongly by
classical Chinese astrology. |
| B |
Tibetan Astronomical
system. The Shri Kalachakra Tantra is the basis of this system. It
was translated from Sanskrit for the first time in 1027 A.D. It helped
in the making of Tibetan annual almanac and calendar. |
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| It contains three chapters. |
- The External Kalachakra focuses on
creation of universe, its cosmology, the movements of planets and stars,
the five elements and chronological studies.
- Internal Kalachakra - which concentrates
on energy centers of the body (chakra), its energy channels and effect
of external forces like planets and stars on the body organs.
- Alternative Kalachakra is most important
to meditation, yoga practice and empowerment teachings.
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| The Importance of Astro. Science
in Medicine. |
| In Tibet, the arts of Astro. Science and
Medicine have worked together for thousands of years describing the influences
on both within and without the body. Both the systems, combined with knowledge
of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water explained the
creation and degeneration of the universe and its living beings. The theory
of these five elements states that all physical phenomenon whether in the
macroscopic or the microscopic cosmic world are formed by these five energies
which express the dynamic qualities of movement, heat, solidity, emptiness
and wetness respectively. These elements have three types of applications
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(a) - External:-
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Wood is used for fuel and cooking.
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Fire for heating
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Metal for knives and tools
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Water for drinking
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Earth upon which we live
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(B) - Internal
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wood is represented by nerves and
muscles.
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fire is the digestive heat.
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earth is flesh
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metal is bone
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water is blood
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(c) The Alternative Elements - correspond
to five vital and six hollow organs :
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wood - liver and gall bladder
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Fire - Heart and small intestine
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Earth - stomach and spleen
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Metal - Lungs and large intestine
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Water - Kidneys, urinary bladder and
seminal vesicles.
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Tibetan medicine asserts that the cause
of all disease is ignorance and ignorance is interpreted as unawareness
of dharma which leads to make wrong decisions in terms of our diet and
behaviours which develop into disorders connected with desire, attachements
and hatred.
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| Since the five elements have
profound effect on the human body, it is necessary for a physician practicing
Tibetan medicine to have a thorough knowledge of Astro Science and their
clinical applications. |
| A good example of inter relationship
between Tibetan medicine and Astro. Science can be found in the technique
of pulse diagnosis. In spring season, the liver pulse predominates, which
is connected to the wood element. If the physician is not aware of the seasonal
influence on a patient's pulse, he may misdiagnose the disease. |
| The Importance of Astronomical
Aids in Medicine |
| As we have described the Kalachakra
Tantra of Astronomical System is one of the highest expressions of Buddhist
philosophy and follows the astrological concept of five elements of which
the body is composed of. The body takes food comprises of elements and the
disease is the expression of imbalance among the elements. Therefore, the
remedy should be composed of the corresponding elements. |
| The suggested remedies include
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| yoga practice, meditation and
empowerment techniques |
| behavioural guidelines |
| puja techniques suitably possible
according to movement of planets and stars. |
| A slight difference in five
theory is fire, earth, water is common in both Astrlogy and Astronomy but
wood is represented by air and metals by space in Astronomy. |
| The application of Astro. Science
in treatment of patients appears as Medical Text and a Tibetan Medical physician
when treats gives medicine also. This gives an indication how closely the
two sciences are related. |
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