Imphal, December 15 2009: Manipur has become the State with the highest number of lung cancer cases in India.

Under the National Cancer Registry Programme, the 5th annual review programme was held at National Institute of Advance Studies, Bangalore from December 1 to 4.In the said programme, annual reports of the population based cancer registries of all the States were discussed.

Medical Superintendent of Regional Institute of Sciences (RIMS) Dr Y Mohen, who attended the programme, also tabled an annual report of the population based cancer registry of Manipur for reviewing.

The report has been prepared by the Pathology Department of RIMS.

According to the report, in 2008, 1269 new cases of lung cancer, which is caused through smoking and consumption of tobacco products, have been detected in Manipur.

This is the said to be the highest recorded in the country.

Out of this 1269 new cases, the number of women patients constitute 643 as against 626 male patients.

Talking to The Sangai Express in this regard, Dr Mohen pointed out that detection of 1269 new cases of lung cancer in a year in a State like Manipur which has around 23 lakhs population is alarming.

Dr Mohen said smoking cigarette or consuming any of the tobacco products may lead to lung cancer and it is even more dangerous to the passive smokers.

In connection with higher cases of lung cancer among Manipuri women than their male counterparts, the Medical Superintendent opined that this may be due to smoking cigarette or Bidis among the women widely and inhalation of the smoke in public places like markets.

Apart from tobacco uses being responsible for the cause of lung cancer, a project on Risk Factor of Lung Cancer has been taken up under the National Cancer Registry Programme to find out the possible factors of DNA disorientation, Dr Mohen informed, adding that the project would cover Manipur and Mizoram.

After lung cancer, stomach cancer, which is caused through consumption of smoked meat and fish and cervix uteri - cancer of the uterus which is common among women due to poor sanitation - have the second most highest prevalence in Manipur.

In 2008, 56 cases of stomach cancer were detected among men while 43 cases of cervix uteri among women in Manipur, he said, adding that cases breast cancer among the women has also been rising.

At all India level, South India is at the top of cervix uteri graph while in stomach cancer Mizoram is leading.

Experts believe that this may be due to the common practice of consuming smoked meat by the people of Mizoram.

Dr Mohen further informed that prevalence of Nasopharynx cancer in India is highest in Ukhrul district of Manipur and Nagaland whereas in Assam where most people consume betel nuts, prevalence of mouth cancer highest in India.

In case of gallbladder cancer, it is highest in Delhi since the people there mostly feed on oily foods.

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