Breast, cervix cancer on the rise in NE: Report
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 19 2022: ICMR-NCDIR and Population Based Cancer Registries, Pathology Department RIMS jointly released a report on Monitoring Survey of Cancer Risk Factors and Health System Response in North East Region (NER), Manipur at RIMS here on Tuesday.

The report release function was attended by RIMS director Prof A Santa Singh as chief guest, RIMS hospital Prof Nepram Sanjib Singh as president and NHM State Mission director Dr Ningombam Somorjit and RIMS dean academic in-charge Prof Th Meera as guests of honour.

RIMS pathology HoD Prof Sushma Khuraijam, who is also the organising chairperson, along with ICMR-NCDIR director Dr Prashant Mathur joined the event through the virtual mode.

Speaking at the function, Prof A Santa informed that North East region has the highest incidence of cancer according to the report and rate of prevalence of breast cancer, which is familiar among woman, tops the list, while cervix cancer is the second most occurred cancer among the people of the region.

Previously, rate of prevalence of cervix cancer was very high, but awareness on maintaining hygiene and production of vaccine for the disease since the last ten years has led to decline in the rate of cervix cancer.

Pointing out that there is an increase in occurrence of colorectal carcinoma among the people, Santa continued that increasing treatment facilities in NER will help the patients tremendously.

A diamond project has been taken up by RIMS under ICMR, he informed, while adding that providing Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Centre by ICMR is fortunate for the institute.

Informing that the institute has numerous advanced machines, Santa further expressed his desire for having more advanced equipment to enhance radiation oncology.

Moreover, he wished for having Regional Cancer Centre and urged the people to support him.

Meanwhile, a release issued by RIMS HOD pathology Prof Sushma Khuraijam informed that the aim of the survey is to estimate prevalence of major cancers associated with behavioral and metabolic risk factors and pattern of their distribution in the population.

The response of the health system towards cancer prevention and control at the primary and secondary level in public as well as private sector and health facilities has also been assessed in the project.

It has been observed from the survey that the people of the state of Manipur are facing high burden of cancer risk factor along with poor health care seeking behaviour and lack of resources for prevention and control of cancer in health care facilities.

The findings from this survey will form a baseline for monitoring risk factors of cancer for comparison in subsequent surveys, she added, while observing that the findings will be incorporated to improve and augment the existing programme regarding prevention and treatment of cancer.

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