Cancer is among top 5 leading causes of death in Arunachal: Survey

NAHARLAGUN, Sep 03: Cancer is among the top five leading causes of death in Arunachal Pradesh, according to a survey.

The survey was undertaken as a part of cancer research in the North East Region (CaRes NER), a multidisciplinary programme run by the ICMR-NCDIR, Bengaluru to prevent and control cancer in the North-eastern states.

According to the reports of the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), the incidence, mortality, and cumulative risk of developing cancer has been consistently high in the North-eastern Region (NER) of India.

The region has a unique cancer profile compared to the other areas of the country. “One out of every 4 persons in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh had a possibility of developing cancer in a lifetime in the age group 0-74 years,” as per the survey.

The leading sites of cancer among men include cancers of the stomach, liver, lung and oseophagus.

In women, cervix, stomach and breast comprise the leading cancer sites.

The cancer data was collected through PBCRs of Arunachal Pradesh, situated in Tomo Riba Institute of Health& Medical Sciences Hospital, Naharlagun and Bakin Pertin General Hospital, Pasighat.

The PBCRs were established in 2011 with 40 and 65 sources of registrations respectively.

The survey was aimed to create a baseline database of cancer and other NCD-related risk factors that can be compared in future surveys, which would help establish an NCD risk factor surveillance programme.

As cancer registration is an important aspect of cancer surveillance, continued risk factor surveillance will show a link between cancer incidence and risk factors.Moreover, with the set time bound and attempts provided by NCD targets (10) and indicators (21) by 2025 to achieve universal health coverage, ongoing surveillance would determine the outcomes of national health programmes. Therefore, establishing a surveillance system is of vital importance to track changes and evaluate interventions, the survey said.

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