Cancer grips Thiruvananthapuram: Study

Kochi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study conducted in 27 select places across the nation on the status of 21 types of cancers reveal that the two places selected from the state, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, have a significant place among this in the case of six types of cancers.

These cancers are thyroid, breast, kidney, lymphoma, urinary bladder and uterus. The study report released in March this year and conducted in the 2012-14 period ranks Thiruvananthapuram at second place nationally in terms of Thyroid cancer while Kollam is on the third spot. In the case of breast cancer the state capital is fourth nationally while in kidney and urinary bladder cancers it is second.

In lymphoma Kollam has second place nationally while Thiruvananthapuram stands at third in it and in uterus cancer.

The annual report of Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) for the 2013-14 period reveals that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the state among women at 28.3 percent against overall cases of 1903, while thyroid cancer is in the second place at 15.2 percent. Uterus cancer is at 7 percent.

Lung cancer comes at third spot in overall prevalence in the state, according to RCC statistics, at 1112 cases at 8.5 percent. Thyroid cases are at second place overall at 1260 cases at 9.6 percent.

In RCC a total of 14,903 new patients come of the overall 2.16 lakh patients, while at Malabar Cancer Centre, Thalassery, newcomers are 7,444, at Amrita Hospital, 10,647 and at Caritas Cancer Institute Kottayam, it is 3,462.  

“Seventy five percent of those seeking treatment at RCC belong to low income category. Though treatment is available in Thrissur Amala Hospital, Kottayam and Kozhikode Meical Colleges, Ernakulam General Hospital and certain other private hospitals, their statistics are not available. The national study in two districts and related to four hospitals reveal that there is an alarming situation and there needs to be a comprehensive study across state in this regard and Kochi Caner Centre is a necessity,” said Dr N K Sanal Kumar, member, Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement, who accessed the reports.