Poonam Pandey’s Cancer Death Stunt Is Insensitive To Say The Least

The recent stunt by Poonam Pandey faking the news of her sudden death from cervical cancer, is an extremely insensitive act by her, towards the ones who are struggling with this disease. She has not only abused her position as an actor/model by declaring her death but has also overlooked the extreme pain and insecurity a family may be dealing with their loved one fighting emotions between life and death with cervical cancer. 

Globally cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women with an estimated rise of 6,04,000 new cases and 3,42,000 deaths in 2020. Apart from cervical cancer data, research brings to light the cancer city in India; Bathinda, which is notoriously known for its widespread disease. The reasons cited are the overuse of pesticides in agricultural practices, the concentration of uranium in water and the use of tobacco and alcohol, which are considered the leading factors of its rise in this region. 

The data on rising cancer cases forces us to look back at a time when cancer wasn’t a very known common reason for death

Most of us born during the 70s and 80s who have lost our grandparents, can’t recall cancer as the most common cause of death. Most lived robust lives and died as they aged. So it brings us to question the price we are paying for unchecked, hedonistic capitalism in a society where wealth and progress aren’t accountable to good practises or leading wholesome lives. Unthinking consumption as we know can be destructive beyond redemption. The sad and alarming reality is that in recent times, millennials are the largest victims of cancer as a disease. 

According to the National Library Of Medicine, it is estimated that the total number of new cases of cancer among males will increase from 0.589 million in 2011 to 0.934 million by the year 2026. In females, the new cases of cancer increased from 0.603 to 0.935 million. 

The three top most occurring cancers namely those of tobacco-related cancers in both sexes, breast and cervical cancers in women account for over 50 to 60 percent of all cancers. When adjustments for increasing tobacco habits and increasing trends in many cancers are made, the estimates may further increase. 

The leading sites of cancers in males are the lung, oesophagus, larynx, mouth, and tongue and in females, it is the breast and cervix uteri. The main factors contributing to this high burden of cancer over the years have increased due to the increase in the population size and an increase in the proportion of the elderly population, urbanization, and globalization.

We all know that we can’t forgo progress but maybe we can start looking at life with a better understanding of what we consume in a healthy manner. Or mindless consumption can lead us to destruction. 

With World Cancer Day, we can't overlook that Poonam Pandey needs serious help as she may be suffering from “Munchausen's Syndrome” which is a psychological and behavioural condition in which the patient fabricates or induces symptoms of illness in themselves. Munchausen's syndrome is named after a German aristocrat, Baron Munchausen, who became famous for telling wild, unbelievable tales about his exploits and past. 

Cancer isn’t a joke and anyone who trivialises this disease is not in the right frame of mind. 

Mohua Chinappa is an author and runs a podcast called The Mohua Show

Views expressed are the author's own.