World Cancer Day observed in Mizoram

Cancer remains the biggest killer among the diseases, especially non-communicable diseases in Mizoram, most probably due to the people of the state’s extensive use of tobacco and tobacco products which is the highest in the country, coupled with the lifestyles of the general public, healthcare officials said.  At least 6,745 people died due to cancer in the state during six years (between 2018 and 2023), National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) officials said at the function on observation of ‘World Cancer Day’ on Tuesday. The officials said that 995 people died in 2018 due to different types of cancer, 1,081 during 2019 while 1,100 died in 2020. They further said that 1,138 lost their lives during 2021 and 1,131 during 2022 while around 1,300 died due to cancer during 2023. “We are yet to have the comprehensive figure for 2024,” the officials said. They also said that at least 11,569 cancer cases were detected and are registered at the Mizoram State Cancer Institute (MSCI) during 6 years (since 2018 till 2023).

The largest number of cancer patients were registered in 2023 which was 2,100, followed by 2,071 in 2022 and 2,013 in 2021. The officials said that 1,770 fresh cancer cases were registered during 2018 and 1,767 cases in 2019 while 1,848 cases were registered in 2020. Dr. Jerry L. Pautu director of MSCI told TOI that though cancer cases increased every year, better equipment including state-of-the-art treatment facilities available in the state and other parts of the country resulted in cancer patients living longer than before even if not completely cured. “It is not that a certain percentage of registered cancer patients die in that particular year, some patients die in a year, years after they were diagnosed with cancer,” Pautu said. He, however, said that extensive use of tobacco and tobacco products including smoking by the general populace contributes to high rates of cancer in the state and that mass awareness needs to be created from younger days.

He also said that more awareness should be there for early detection of cancer cases to increase early and more successful treatment.“The first cobalt therapy unit was installed on February 4, 1998 at the MSCI and the institute has come a long way in improvement of the equipment and other facilities while MSCI has also been upgraded to Tertiary Care Cancer Centre (TCCC) on February 4 last year,” he said, adding that with funding from Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA), Rs.732 crore was utilised to upgrade and improve the cancer institute,” Pautu said. The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day is “United by Unique”.