Number of cancer cases on the increase in Kerala.
In a report published by the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram it is stated that there is a drastic increase in the number of cancer cases in the past three decades in the State. In this 30 years 2,49,362 new patients came for treatment in the Centre. In 1982 the number of new patients was 3,696, where as in 2011 it became 14,016.This increase in number can be attributed, to a certain extent, to better awareness among the people and the availability of improved medical facilities. At the same time the impact of changes in life style and the environment are to be seriously considered as major causes.
RCC is handling more than one third of cancer cases in the State. Among women breast cancer is most common (28.1%), followed by Thyroid cancer (13.2%), cervical cancer (8.2%) and oral cancer (6.8%).
In the case of men oral cancer is more frequent (13.9%), followed by lung cancer (13.6%).
The highest proportional increase of patients has been reported for leukemia followed by cancers of the prostate, rectum and thyroid. Cancer registration is said to be an important component of cancer control programme, which help the assessment and magnitude of the disease in the society.