Morung Express News
Kohima | November 11
The 32nd Annual Review meeting of the National Cancer Registry program is underway in Kohima. It began on November 9 and will continue till November 12. The program which comes under the National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research (Indian Council of Medical Research) is being hosted by the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima. During the inaugural session, PB Acharya, Governor of Nagaland and P Longon, Minister, Health & Family Welfare graced the occasion.
The Northeast region can be called the cancer capital of our country, said Dr. AC Kataki, Director, Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute Guwahati in his welcome address, because of the high incidence of cancer rate in the NE states. Informing that there are only 11 Cancer Registry programs in the NE, Dr Kataki urged the delegates to work together collectively to ensure that the central schemes of the Government of India are properly implemented.
“We have to ensure that whatever is provided by the GoI to the poor people released in the various state governments should be utilized judiciously, to ensure that we can avail the benefits of health and family welfare in India. There are schemes for the treatment of poor patients instituted by the GoI called Health Minister Cancer Treatment fund. Unfortunately many of the states have failed to utilize the initiatives of the GoI. I fervently appeal to all of you to judiciously utilize the fund released so that it can benefit public,” stated Dr. Kataki.
Two areas that need emphasis in the prevention of early detection of cancer are awareness on cancer and the provision of resources and infrastructures in the NE region. Asserting that it is the duty of the Cancer Registry program to take up research and find out the cause of cancer in the NE, Dr. Kataki outlined the need for a holistic approach to treating cancer as well as preventing it.
These measures include ensuring pediatric care, support to cancer patients, psychological support etc.
Dr. Prashant Mathur, Director, National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research, ICMR Bangalore informed that since 1981, the ICMR has been running the National Cancer Registry Project to establish cancer registration in the country. “What started as a small effort with few centers has now blossomed into 29 population based cancer registries and 29 hospital based cancer registries,” said Dr. Mathur. He added that ICMR is able to initiate policy dialogues with program and policy makers both at the central level as well as in the states.
“It is not just about data and statistics. To act we need data, to showcase problems,” said Dr. Mathur. The NCRP also pays special emphasis to the NE, where it invests not only in building capacity in the region but provides funding for critical projects.
Pointing out that the cancer registry in the NE is collecting good data of high quality, Dr Mathur pointed out that this reflects the need to utilize this data for action towards setting up treatment facilities.
He further pointed to rapid modernization and urbanization leading to contamination, pollution, change in dietary habits, exposures to tobacco and other addictions, which leads to lifestyle diseases like blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.
“Many of the cancers are very aggressive and curtail life in short time but they leave an indelible mark not only on the family but in society as whole. One cancer patient in a family deprives an entire family for generation,” said Dr. Mathur. Dr. Mathur also assured of providing Nagaland the best technical assistance.
Cancer incidence in Nagaland
In Nagaland, the leading types of cancer (2012-2014) in males were Nasopharynx (15.3%), stomach cancer (12.3%), and Oesophagus cancer (10.4%). The leading types of cancer in females were cervix cancer (16.7%) followed by breast cancer (12.6%), stomach cancer (11%) and Nasopharynx cancer (10.8 %.)
Nagaland has the country’s highest incidence of Nasopharynx cancer (AAR) in both the male and female population. Internationally, Nagaland is placed 3rd in male prevalence and 2nd in female prevalence of this type of cancer.
Meanwhile, approximately 300 cancer patients are referred outside the state for treatment annually. The state government also does not have facilities for radiotherapy treatment, despite the data showing that more than 600 new cases of cancer are detected every year.
