Aizawl, 8 Feb: With Mizoram being dubiously holding the top position in cancer cases in the country, as many as 3,267 people died of the non-communicable disease in five years. State Nodal Officer (Non-Communicable Diseases) National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke, Dr Eric Zomawia said during the observation of World Cancer Day.
Dr Eric Zomawia said that the report of Mizoram PBCR published in 2015 shows that 6,403 people were found suffering from cancer and 3,267 people died of the disease in five years. It has been estimated that of the 1,300 new cases of cancer, 650 died of the disease every year in Mizoram, and the main factor which led to cancer is tobacco consumption, he added.
According Dr Eric, Mizoram topped in nine cancer sites. Besides holding the top position in cancer in all sites (male and female), the State also topped in tongue cancer (male), lung cancer (male & female), stomach cancer (male & female), hypopharynx cancer (male) and gland cancer (male). He further said cancer was the biggest killer in the State.
The Day was observed across the State during which free screening clinic was held. In Aizawl, the observation was held at Chandmari YMA Hall. Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Lal Thanzara said that the rampant increase of cancer among Mizos can be checked if people make concerted efforts to combat it. He added that 90 per cent of cancer cases can be cured if diagnosed early.
PTI adds: Nagaland has registered a total of 3,348 cancer cases in between 2009 and 2014, with an average 600 new cases being registered every year.
This was revealed by Principal Investigator, Population Based Cancer Registry, Nagaland, Dr V Khamo, while quoting reports of National Cancer Registry Programme on the occasion of World Cancer Day organised by Cancer Society of North East (CSNE) here. Out of the total 3,348 cases, 2,034 were male and 1,314 were female patients, she said.
Nagaland and Manipur have high rate of throat cancer due to smoked meat and salted fish consumption and also firewood burning at homes, Dr Khamo said. She said Nasopharynx was the leading site of cancer in Naga men with 19.27 per cent followed by stomach cancer at 17.43 per cent and Oesophagus at 16.06 per cent, while among women the leading cancer site was cervix at 19.09 per cent followed by stomach at 13.64 per cent and breast cancer at 11.82 per cent.
CSNE president Lanuakum Jamir said there were 25 million cancer cases globally and India has about 2.5 million cases.