North East to see 57,131 cancer cases by 2025: ICMR-NCDIR

Written by Medical Dialogues Bureau Published On 2021-02-06T09:15:13+05:30 | Updated On 6 Feb 2021 9:15 AM IST

North East to see 57,131 cancer cases by 2025: ICMR-NCDIR

These estimates are based on cancer data compiled by eleven Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) in all eight states

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) -National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, has released a report titled, Profile of cancer and related health indicators in the Northeast Region of India'.

The report was launched on the occasion of World Cancer Day, 4 February 2021, by Prof Balram Bhargava, Secretary DHR &Director General, ICMR. The report projects that the number of new cancer cases in the northeast region (NER) is likely to increase to 57,131 by 2025, in comparison to the estimated 50,317 in 2020. These estimates are based on cancer data compiled by eleven Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) in all eight states. The report also includes data from seven Hospital Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs) in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura from 2012 to 2016.

"North-East, the eight sisters, is the jewel in the crown of our nation. The NE cancer registries have done commendable work. It is pertinent that we preserve the ethnic diversity of the region. The report from ICMR/NCDIR, Bengaluru highlights the magnitude of the problem and its diversity in NER. The National Cancer Registry Program has played a vital role in NER mapping cancer burden over several years. The region is a thrust area for ICMR to augment research to address cancer prevention and control activities. The scientific evidence generated from the registries has led to the strengthening of health infrastructure in the region and will provide the guidance for future policy decisions", said Prof Balram Bhargava, Secretary DHR & DG, ICMR. "We need to focus on early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. The report has given us valuable insights into the prevailing risk factors of Cancer - all the stakeholders must now come together to fights its increasing incidence.", explains Prof GK Rath, Head of AIIMS, BRAIRCH and NCI, Jhajjar.

In all the states, the incidence of cancer was higher in males than in females except in Manipur and Sikkim. Here are the highlights of the incidence statistics:

- The commonly occurring cancers among males were cancer of the esophagus (13.6%) and lung (10.9%), while in females, cancer of the breast was the leading site (14.5%), followed by that of cervix uteri (12.2%).

- The highest incidence rate in males (269.4 per 100,000 population) was recorded in Aizawl district in Mizoram, among females (219.8 per 100,000) in Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh.

- The proportion of tobacco-related cancers was 49.3% in males and 22.8 % in females.

- At the time of diagnosis of breast, cervix, head&neck, stomach and lung cancers, less than one-third were localized, while the remaining were spread either nearby or distantly in the body.

- The proportion of cancer patients seeking treatment outside the north east was highest for Sikkim (95.3%) and Nagaland (58.1%).

The report also provides insight into the prevailing cancer risk factor profile capacity for treating cancer and death statistics for each state from various sources. Many of these factors influence cancer outcomes and survival. Below are the key statistics on prevailing cancer risk factors:

- Among the 8 NE states, current tobacco use was highest in Tripura at 64.5% and lowest in Sikkim at 17.9%. Men (59%) and Women (26.3%) from Arunachal Pradesh who were over 15 years‟ of age, consumed higher proportions of alcohol than in other NE states.

- The prevalence of obesity among women aged 15-49 years was highest in Sikkim (34.7%) followed by Manipur (34.1%). While in men it was highest in Sikkim (36.3%) and lowest in Meghalaya (13.9%). Sikkim had the highest prevalence of hypertension in men (41.6%) and women (34.5%), followed by Manipur (men 33.2% and women 23.0%).

- In all the eight statesmen had a higher blood sugar level when compared to women. Less than 50% of the households in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura were using clean fuel for cooking.

- Meghalaya had the most households covered with a health insurance scheme or financing scheme (63.5%).

ICMR set up the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) in 1982. The program is overseen by the ICMR National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru. A network of population and hospital-based cancer registries (PBCR, HBCR) systematically collect data related to cancer incidence, mortality, and clinical aspects to estimate burden, trends, survival, and management. These results then facilitate efforts to strengthen cancer prevention and control throughout the country.

To view the official notice click on the following link:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/press-release-cancer-reportncdir3-febuary-2021icmr-version-147273.pdf

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