Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that government was making concerted efforts to combat cancer and appealed the people not to ignore its early warning signs.
Badal said it was a habit among the Punjabis to sit over the warning signs of a disease till it reaches the advanced stage and urged people not to delay the cancer treatment.
"Cancer is curable. If the disease is treated early, people can get cured. I will give my own example, 20 years back I too had this complaint of cancer. I got treatment from USA and got fully cured. My father and my wife also fell prey to cancer.
"The name of this disease sends chill down the spine and family comes under great stress, but there is no need to lose hope, but the only thing is that people should not delay the treatment," Badal said here.
He was interacting with reporters at the function that pertained to combating incidences of cancer in the state.
The Punjab Government has partnered with Max Healthcare and will be holding a cancer screening camp in 22 districts of the state on September 28-29. The Max is the lead partner of the camp, in which top oncologists will be available at the district hospitals and three medical colleges of Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot University.
Cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who overcame the dreaded disease, was also present at the press conference.
"Yuvi (Yuvraj) is sitting amongst us, he went through great pain, we used to pray for him. Now, I see his matches, he hits sixes. If he can hit sixes, everyone else too can hit sixes (hit cancer for a six)," Badal said.
"I appeal to people of Punjab to visit these camps on Saturday and Sunday and get themselves checked," he said.
CM said that the state government is chalking out an important action plan to combat cancer.
He said the state government would soon set up two modern cancer diagnostic and treatment centres at Amritsar and Patiala, for combating cancer in an effective manner.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government had already transferred its prime land in Mullanpur near Chandigarh for the setting up of a world class cancer hospital on the lines of Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai.
This 400-bed hospital project is currently awaiting the nod of the Union Cabinet, he informed.
In Bathinda, a 100-bed hospital under Baba Farid university will be completed in December.
"By next year, you will find that Punjab will have specialised treatment for cancer and people from different parts of the country and even abroad will come to the state to get treatment," he said.
