Cancer rates continue to be a serious cause of concern for Meghalaya, with the latest National Cancer Registry Programme report identifying East Khasi Hills as the district with the “highest relative proportion of cancers” associated with the use of any form of tobacco in the country, it was revealed today.
The rates for the district are 70.4 percent in males and 46.5 percent in females.
In 2020, tobacco related cancers are estimated to contribute 3.7 lakh (27.1 percent) of the total cancer burden, the report, compiled by the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research, said.
Cancers related to use of any form of tobacco were highest in the North East and in higher proportions in men. Cancer of lung, mouth, stomach and oesophagus were the most common cancers among men. Cancers of the breast and cervix uteri (womb) were the most common cancers among women. A significant increase in the incidence rates of breast cancers in women, and also lung, head and neck cancers in both men and women was observed in most of the registries. However, a declining trend was seen in most of the registries for cancer of the cervix (womb).
In the North East, the registries showed females with higher proportion of cancers associated with use of any form of tobacco, which was followed by the registries of central and western regions of India.
The report estimates that in 2020 cancer cases in the country will be at 13.9 lakh and likely to increase to 15.7 lakh by 2025, based on current trends. These estimates are based on information related to cancer collected from 28 Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs). Additionally, 58 Hospital Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs) provided cancer data.
