Cancer in Rajasthan : 5 Year authentic survey

Cancer is a deadly disease which has become close to epidemic. The problem with it is, cancer once detected late, can be fatal for any person. But a sharp distinction can be made between curable cancer and other types where the survival rate is much appreciably low. Interestingly, authentic cancer statistics is something which is not readily available. Often in rural areas, people die even before the detection whereas in some areas, infrastructure for diagnosing cancer is not available. For the first time in Rajasthan Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital has collected, collated and analyzed cancer data per International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) coding since last 5 years. A total of 46904 patients were diagnosed with cancer at the centre in last five years with an average of 9380 new patients every year.

The geographic distribution of the patients coming to BMCHRC has revealed that almost 70% of the patients come from outside Jaipur and are distributed to all districts of Rajasthan, about 10% being from adjacent states of UP, Haryana, MP and Punjab. No doubt, the data sample is representative of Rajasthan as represent. As far as the data obtained, throughout the span of years, cancer of lip, oral cavity and pharynx constitute the top cancer (20%) in the hospital coming population. Oncologists highlight high rate of head neck cancers to be caused by tobacco consumption. Cancers of digestive organs follows up next with 15%. Gall bladder cancer has surprisingly emerged to be the prime cancer in this group in Rajasthan which has preponderance in female with a ratio of 70 females to 30 males. Pesticides in food items are alleged to be the cause for high rate of these cancers.

Tobacco smoking is the main cause behind lung cancer which constitutes another 15% of all cancers. Female breast and uterus cancer together are found to be 17% of all the cancers where early detection by mammography and pap smear test are the available secondary prevention methods. BMCHRC is running a surveillance programme in post menopausal women for the last three years.  Awareness is still a major issue as a relatively lower proportion of females constitute the hospital population. Meanwhile blood cancers constitute 10% of all cancers. In children it accounts for almost 50% of all cancers in children. Thankfully, the majority of childhood blood cancers are rated to be “curable” cancers.  BMCHRC has been running a “Donate A Life” project for free treatment of three childhood blood cancers for the last three years. Under this project of the 100 children registered, 62 children are today cancer free and are leading a normal life. Of the other blood cancer namely Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in adult 121 patients are on regular free imatinib therapy and leading a normal productive life.