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Doctors who attended The Kerala Cancer Conclave organised by the Association of Medical and Pediatric Oncologists of Kerala (AMPOK) on June 28-29 in Thiruvananthapuram, voiced growing concern at the rising incidence of cancer in the state.

Dr. Prashant Mathur, Director of ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), revealed that in Kerala the incidence of annual cancer cases at 88,460, including 43,110 men and 45,350 women, was above national average. This represented 5.7 per cent of the total cancer cases of 1.56 million in the country. The numbers are expected to grow to 43,930 for men and 45,813 for women by 2030. However, he added that the cancer survival rates in Kerala are comparatively favourable.

Among men, lung cancer leads with 14 per cent cases followed by oral cavity and colorectal cancers at 10 per cent each. The incidence of prostate cancer and liver cancer is pegged at 9 per cent and 8 per cent respectively. In women, breast cancer tops at 34 per cent followed by cancers of thyroid (11 per cent), colorectal (9 percent), uterus (6 per cent) and ovary (4 per cent). He said liver cancer has increased among both the genders in the last two decades.

Dr. Suresh H. Advani, pointed out that breast and thyroid cancers were on the rise among women in Kerala in the recent years. According to Dr. Narayanankutty Warrier, Medical Director of the MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute, there has been a 300% increase in breast cancer cases over the last 25 years.

Dr. Aleyamma Mathew, Professor and Head of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and noted that while the incidence of breast and colorectal cancers increased in the state, the number of cases of cervical cancer has declined.

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