Lung cancer main cause of death in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 21 2022: While cancer has been highlighted as one of the five top causes of death in the state, lung cancer accounts for the chief factor for fatalities while 35 per cent of cancer cases are related with use of tobacco products.

As per the Report on Monitoring Survey of Cancer Risk Factors and Health System Response in North East Region (NER) published jointly by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Diseases Informatics and Research (NCDIR), 18.9 percent of deaths occur due to lung cancer.

It is followed by stomach cancer (6.9 percent) and nasopharyngeal cancer (6.2 percent) .

Tobacco is the main cause of cancer at 35 per cent among men and 20 percent among women.

Among women, prevalence of breast cancer also remains high at 15.4 percent followed by lung cancer (14.4 percent) and cervix uteri cancer (9.5 percent) .

Lung cancer among men is also high at 18.9 percent.

According to the report, prevalence rate of different forms of cancer among men is one in every 85 for lung cancer, one in every 177 for stomach cancer, one in every 271 for oesophagus cancer, one in every 231 for nasopharyngeal cancer and one in every 294 for NHL cancer.

Prevalence rate of different forms of cancer among women is one in every 63 for lung cancer, one in every 95 for breast cancer, one in every 126 for cervix uteri cancer, one in every 205 for thyroid cancer, and one in every 227 for ovary cancer.

The state records high cancer related death rate due to its hilly geographical topography, lack of better healthcare facility and late diagnosis.

Usage of tobacco products (both smoke and smokeless) is high at 52.1 percent out of which 46.3 percent are smokeless tobacco users.

Among the tobacco users, 43.3 percent are daily users.

Prevalence rate of smoking is 18.5 percent in the state out of which 12.8 percent try to give up smoking while 2.3 percent are advised to quit by doctors or healthcare workers.

Out of the total population of the state, 31 percent consumes second hand smoke.

As per the report, 25.2 percent of the responders use Pan Masala, betel quid or areca nuts, and 23.3 percent consume areca nut.

At the same time, 16.3 per cent of the responders consume liquor 12 months a year and 14.4 percent once a month while the mean age of liquor consumer is 22.6 year.

Moreover, 2.3 per cent of the liquor users consume on daily basis and 1.5 percent drinks from early morning.

It also mentions that 11.5 percent of the responders are heavy drinkers and 1.7 percent of them get advice to quit from doctors or health workers, the report said.

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