Highest incidence of cancer in NE:
A cause of deep concern
‘The alarming dimension of this killer disease can be
understood from the fact that over the last two decades,
there has been four-fold increase in the patient turnout in
Guwahati institute’
HIGH ALERT
From our Correspondent Sentinel Assam
SILCHAR, June 14: “Highest incidence of cancer in the
North-east is a cause for deep concern and needs more
incisive study and research”, observed Dr Ravi Kanan,
Director of Cachar Cancer Hospital, while interacting with
journalists here today. Before joining here as director, Dr
Kanan was the professor and head of the department of
Chennai Cancer Institute. He said 20 per cent of the cancer
cases in Chennai were from the North-east and West Bengal.
Most of the patients as he said had cancer in neck and
throat which he attributed to tobacco intake, food-habit,
water related problem and life style. He, however, added to
say more in-depth study of the cases would reveal other
factors as well.
Dr Kanan found his task challenging here as it would provide
him the opportunity to be closer to people and the
environment around. He felt treating patients in this
hospital would have its impact in the valley. His strategy
would be to go for mass awareness about the symptoms of the
dreaded disease and motivate people to adopt preventive
measures.
He cited the instance of Japan, known for highest number of
stomach-cancer in the world. Preservation and refrigeration
of food, he explained, as found out by research “has reduced
the risk of cancer in the land of the rising sun! Though Dr
Kanan would take up data-based causes of cancer in Barak
Valley and its surrounding areas, he would prefer to advise
people ‘to eschew tobacco’ in order to stay healthy. With
his 17 years of experience as an onco-surgeon, he would do
his best to bring this hospital to the level of competence
and expertise in order to deal with cancer cases
effectively.
According to a report of B Borooah Cancer Institute, the
rising incidence of cancer of lung and oral cancer is due to
tobacco use. The alarming dimension of this killer disease
can be understood from the fact that over the last two
decades, there has been four-fold increase in the patient
turn over in Guwahati institute. The report further says
that cancers of hypopharynx, tonsil, base of the tongue,
oesophagus and nasopharynx are more prevalent in this
region. Prevalence of cancer of nasopharynx is highest in
the North-east and interestingly it is more prevalent among
the Mongoloid population, particularly the tribal population
of Nagaland.
District-wise break up of cancer patients of Asom attending
the institute shows highest number of them from Kamrup,
followed by Nagaon, Darang and Barpeta.
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