Mizoram has maximum number of cancer patients

Shillong, July 14 (UNI) The North Eastern region has recorded the highest incidence rate of cancer disease, due to heavy consumption of tobacco and alcohol.

Mizoram tops the list of age adjusted incidence rate of Cancer disease, Prof A Nanda Kumar told newspersons today on the sidelines of the seminar on ''Cancer Challenges in India with particular reference to North East.'' Prof Kumar who is chief principal investigator, National Cancer Registry Programme, Bangalore, said Mizoram also tops the list in the incidence rate of tongue and lung cancer.

While, Nagaland and Manipur show the highest age of adjusted incidence rate for Nasopharyngeal cancers, Asom's Darrang, Kamrup, Dibrugrah, Barpeta and Nalbari, Golaghat and Goalpara districts show the highest incidence of Tonsil and Oropharyngeal cancer. He said Meghalaya show the highest incidence rate of Hypopharengeal cancer and Sikkim also shows the incidence of cancer of stomach.

The North Eastern states are not far behind from other common cancers like cancer of uterine cervix and breast, he added.

Prof Kumar has attributed the high incidence of cancer in the region also due to non-existent treatment facility, financial constraints and inability to travel long distances with advanced stage of the disease.

About 2.174 lakh cancer patients have been registered in the National Cancer Registry programme for 2001-2002, according to prof Kumar.

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