Current Medicine Research and Practice (Jan 2013)
Cancer statistics in India: An overview of incidence on the basis of first report on 20 population-based cancer registries
Abstract
Background: Cancer statistics comprise data on various sites of cancer and registries available in registry reports. A summary of these data can serve as a ready reference for researchers and clinicians requiring an overview of the facts related to the control of cancer. Aim: To present an overview of the statistics available on the incidence of cancer from recent population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in India during 2006–2008. Design: Retrospective. Setting: Secondary sources of cancer registration data. Methods: Data on age-adjusted rates (AARs) of incidence and the cumulative risks of cancer of six major sites among patients of either sex were collected from the first report of the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) on 20 PBCRs in India for the period of 2006–2008. The risk of cancer of various sites was computed, in terms of one in a number of people likely to develop cancer. The summarized data are presented as ranges and are representative of six regions of the country, according to the location of the 20 PBCRs. Statistical analysis: Ranges of AARs of incidence and cumulative risks for the development of cancer over a person’s lifetime have been computed and presented. Results: The risk of developing cancer of any site (during 0–64 years of age) among Indian men and women is 1 in 9–31 and 1 in 10–27, respectively. Going by regions, men in the north-east ran the highest risk of developing lung cancer (1 in 76) and cancer of the oesophagus (1 in 59). The other proportions of those who were at risk of developing cancer of major sites were as follows: 1 in 95 for mouth cancer in the western region, 1 in 137 for tongue cancer in the rural western region, 1 in 303 for prostate cancer in the northern region and 1 in 39 for cancer of the stomach in the north-eastern region. In the case of women, the highest risks were for breast cancer (1 in 35) in the south, cervical cancer (1 in 61) in the western region, cancer of the ovary (1 in 141) in the northern region, cancer of the oesophagus (1 in 100) in the north-east, mouth cancer (1 in 233) in the southern region and cancer of the gallbladder (1 in 123) in the north-east. Conclusion: The overall risk of developing cancer is not gender-dependent. The highest risk is that of breast cancer among women in the southern region and stomach cancer among men in the north-east.
