The word cancer comes from the Greek word karkinos meaning crab-like. The crab disappears into the sand and you might forget about it. But it surfaces again, a little further away, in some unpredictable place. Similarly, with cancer, it is difficult to determine how it will spread and how well it can be localised. WHO estimates that nearly eight million people will have cancer as the cause of death as we enter the new millennium.
Urban areas are major noise pollution centres.
Go for audiogram check-ups yearly if you are in the ambit of high noise levels. In India, facilities are available in urban areas and outreach programmes are limited. Catching it young can solve many problems. Today cochlear implants are possible and the deaf may hear again. Satish Gujral, India's renowned painter, lost his hearing at five, possibly due to shock.