 4th February is World Cancer Day and it is important to realize that in India we are seeing an upsurge of cancer cases. Nearly 11 lakh to 12 lakh cases are being diagnosed every year. We are losing a lot of patients, nearly 8 lakh deaths happening every year because of cancer. Now the problem is that these cases are being diagnosed majorly in advanced cases in advanced stages. And the reason being that there is late presentation, we were also battling the Covid pandemic and we saw that there were late presentations during the pandemic while the curve of the pandemic was coming down. Patients started coming up with various complaints and were being diagnosed when they were being diagnosed with cancer. It was a relatively advanced stage. This could have been avoided and could be further avoided in future. There are certain things which should be kept in mind. There are certain warning signs of cancer. So before cancer starts, there are certain warning signs. I would not say all cancers would want but at least most of them do. So if there is any sore in the mouth which is not healing, especially in tobacco chewers, then it should be brought immediately to the notice of the doctor. It could require a biopsy. Likewise, any lump in the body, whether be it in the breast or whether be it elsewhere, could be cancerous. These lumps, if especially they are new in onset or they have appeared recently, need to be brought immediately to the doctor or to the gynecologist, to the notice of the treating physician. Also, if there is an unexpected bleed and when I say unexpected, I am saying that a bleed from any orifice which is not expected, which is not a part of the regular menstrual cycle in ladies, which is not supposed to happen. So this bleed needs to be brought in notice of the doctor. If there is a change in bowel habit and that is of recent onset, especially in individuals who are above the age of 50 years, it could be a marker of bowel cancer. This should be brought into the notice of the doctor. The patient might require a colonoscopy. Likewise, if there is a heartburn, repeated heartburns which are not being relieved on the regular use of over the counter drugs, then it should be brought into the notice of the doctor because the patient might require upper GI endoscopy. So these are certain signs and one of the most important signs being weight loss. If there is a weight loss, which is unexplained, the person has not changed his dietary pattern, it is important, must be brought into the notice of the doctor. If there is a change in the size of the mole or any of the nevus which is there on the skin and if the size starts increasing, it should be brought into the notice of the doctor. Also, if there is any chronic cough, it could be tuberculosis, but then it could also be cancer, especially if the patient or if the person has been a smoker. So it should again be brought into the notice of the doctor. Chest imaging might be required. Having said this, a regular screening once the vaccine for the pandemic COVID-19 would start, I pray that the regular screening programs in India for cancer should come up and should be taken forth because this is important, especially screening programs in ladies as well as certain cancers in males are important and if they are caught very early, they have excellent outcomes. Screening programs like for mammogram breast cancer screening after the age of 40 years, at least once in two years till the age of 50 years and thereafter annually in every lady till the age of at least 70 years, it could be an important aspect in catching breast cancer early. Likewise, a pap smear is a very important aspect for catching up cervical cancer and a discussion should always be there with gynecologist once the lady is visiting their gynecologist. However, it should start after the age of 21 years and should be carried out at least once in three years regularly. Apart from this, if there is any history of colon cancer or otherwise, if there is history of any colitis or otherwise in an individual who is above 50 years of age, screening for colon cancer should be discussed. There could be a requirement of colonoscopy once in every 10 years, so that aspect should be discussed with the physician. Lung cancer screening is also possible now. There should be a thorough discussion with the physician, especially those patients in those persons who are actually chronic smokers, heavy smokers and above the age of 50 years. They should have a discussion with their physicians that if in case they are ready to quit smoking, how would they like to screen themselves for lung cancer? So, having said that, I would say cancer if caught early has definitely got a curative, a big curative element.