National Cancer Registry Programme 2020: Registries in North-East India record higher incidence of cancer in 12 anatomical sites than the other registries in the country

The Report of National Cancer Registry Programme 2020 has shown that Cancer registries in North-East India has higher incidence rates of cancers of oropharynx, oesophagus, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, stomach, colorectal, liver, gall bladder, larynx, lung, cervix uteri and ovary than the other registries in the country.

The registry Report shows that East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya has the highest Age Adjusted Rates (AAR) of tobacco related cancers (males:161.3; females: 58.1) in India. The AAR indicates how cancer incidence increases as age increases.

One out of every four persons in Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh had a possibility of developing cancer in a lifetime in the age group 0-74 years. Aizawl district had the highest incidence (AAR, 269.4) in males and Papumpare district (AAR, 219.8) had the highest in females for all sites of cancer.

Alarming trends of growing cancer in North-east India was witnessed along with the country as a whole. The Report, prepared on 28 Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCR) and 58 Hospital Based Cancer registries the basis of (HBCR) is aimed at creating evidence on the burden, pattern and distribution of cancer. The data include cancer incidents during the period between 2012 and 2016.

There are 14 PBCRs in north-east out of 28 such PCBRs throughout the country. The region has seven HBRC against 58 such registries in the country.

Assam Assemby Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami inaugurates an Operation Theatre at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati on Aug 14, 2020: (Photo courtesy : Media Cell, BBCI)

“Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) systematically collect information on a reportable neoplasm from multiple sources in a geographically defined population residing in the area for a period of one year. Hospital Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs) are concerned with recording of information on the treatment, management and outcome of cancer patients registered in a particular hospital,” states the NCRP Report 2020.

Total Number of Cancer Cases Registered in PBCRs under NCRP in North-East India During 2012-16

Total Number of Cancer Cases Registered in HBCRs under NCRP

in North-East India During 2012-16

The leading anatomical sites of cancer for each PBCR is summarised below.