Study on Cancer Patients

New Delhi, March 12, 2018: According to an article “Global surveillance of trends in cancer survival 2000-14 (CONCORD-3), published in LANCET, there are differences in survival rates across countries. The study estimates 5-year survival for breast cancer as 88.2% in Canada, 68.78% in Thailand, 76.5 % in Poland and 66.1% in India.

However, the coverage of Population in the study is reported to vary from higher coverage in European Countries while it is reported to cover about 0.1 % of population in India. The study has indicated various reasons for variations in survival rate of cancer. The study also impress upon the need of Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) to evaluate both the impact of cancer prevention strategies and the effectiveness of health systems for all patients diagnosed with cancer.

The cancer survival rate is generally believed to depend upon amongst others, stage at diagnosis, stage of initiation of treatment, type and site of cancer, correct and complete treatment. Cancer can be diagnosed and treated at various levels in the Health care system.

National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), an institute under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is implementing National Cancer Registry Program. As reported by ICMR, estimated incidence and mortality for three years is given belowrespectively:

Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in India, State/UT wise – All sites – (2014 to 2016)- Both sexes
States	2014	2015	2016
Jammu & Kashmir	14115	14864	15652
Himachal Pradesh	7425	7722	8029
Punjab	30002	31214	32474
Chandigarh	1162	1217	1274
Uttaranchal	11240	11796	12381
Haryana	27933	29240	30611
Delhi	18356	19168	20015
Rajasthan	75642	79160	82836
Uttar Pradesh	222615	233659	245231
Bihar	117603	123949	130628
Sikkim	467	473	479
Arunachal Pradesh	1231	1252	1272
Nagaland	1288	1294	1300
Manipur	2836	2916	2998
Mizoram	1585	1618	1652
Tripura	2139	2169	2199
Meghalaya	3184	3246	3311
Assam	31124	31474	31825
West Bengal	99339	103532	107906
Jharkhand	37031	38947	40959
Orissa	45736	47666	49674
Chhattisgarh	28738	30239	31817
Madhya Pradesh	81034	85078	89315
Gujarat	66952	70171	73551
Daman & Diu	339	385	440
Dadra & Nagar Haveli	421	457	497
Maharashtra	122256	127390	132726
Telangana	38494	40177	41939
Andhra Pradesh	53570	55776	58072
Karnataka	67237	70302	73511
Goa	1587	1655	1726
Lakshadweep	77	82	89
Kerala	37550	39672	42004
Tamil Nadu	76091	78512	80999
Pondicherry	1428	1510	1596
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	402	415	429
Total	1328229	1388397	1451417

 

NCDIR has also initiated a project on “Population Based Cancer Survival on Cancers of Breast, Cervix and Head & Neck” across 28 PBCRs.

Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government for improving healthcare including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. The objectives of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for interventions upto district level include awareness generation for Cancer prevention, opportunistic  screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment. The focus is on three types of cancer namely breast, cervical and oral cancer.

A population level initiative of prevention, control and screening for common NCDs (diabetes, hypertension and cancer viz. oral, breast and cervical) has been rolled out in over 150 districts of the country in 2017-18 under NHM, as a part of comprehensive primary healthcare. The screening activity will generate awareness on risk factors of common NCDs including cancer.

The Government of India is implementing “Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer facilities” Scheme under NPCDCS to assist to establish/set up State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country. Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under PradhanMantriSwasthyaSurakshaYojana (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and 2nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has also been approved. All these will enhance the capacity for prevention and treatment of cancer in the country.  Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment(AMRIT) Pharmacies have been set up by HLL Lifecare Ltd., a Government of India CPSE to make available drugs for cancer inter-alia at discounted prices to the patients.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.