A population-based study on the burden of tobacco-related cancers in Kamrup urban district cancer registry of Assam, India

Abstract

Background: Tobacco use remains a serious and persistent national problem and is the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide. At least 1.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco in some form and are responsible for causing mortality of approximately 6 million people annually from cancer and other diseases. Materials and Methods: Data collection is active with participation of different sources including major hospitals, diagnostic centers, state referral board, and birth and death registration centers within registry area as cancer is not notifiable in India. Results: In males, a total of 4794 cancer cases were registered in Kamrup urban district during the period from 2010 to 2014, out of which 2386 cases were tobacco-related cancers (TRCs), and in females out of 3767 cases, 944 were TRCs. In the North Eastern Region, head-and-neck cancer is common, and high use of tobacco is a risk factor in this region. The age-standardized rate (age-adjusted rate) per 100,000 population of TRCs in males is 99.9 and in females is 48.0. Conclusion: Knowledge of the incidence and pattern of TRCs is of paramount importance in planning and implementing measures for primary prevention of tobacco use which is a major step in cancer control.