Cancer is seemingly taking deep roots in Odisha by emerging as the second biggest killer after heart disease last year. The disconcerting fact of the matter is cancer mortality rate in Odisha is on the rise as it breaches the urban-rural divide by affecting rural women in the lower income group significantly. Sample the malignant portends. In every 24 hours, the State witnesses around 46 victims succumbing to this malignant disease. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimates, as high as 16, 885 mortalities due to cancer have been recorded in Odisha in 2014. The estimates put the total incidence of cancer cases in the State at around 38,375 in 2014 up from around 37,478 in 2013. ICMR further estimates the prevalence of cancer cases in Odisha at over 1.03 lakh. As per ICMR the prevalence (10-yrs of duration) of cancer cases has been arrived at by assuming it 2.7 times that of the incidence cases during the period 2009-2011.
Breast, cervix and oral cancer account for higher load in Odisha. Cervical cancer alone accounts for around 9 per cent and oral cancer cases account for over one-fifth of the total cases in the State last year, find the data. Significantly, profiling of the cervical and oral cancer incidences reveal that worst affected belong to lower income group and mostly inhabit in rural areas. Incidence of cervix and oral cancer is higher in rural than urban areas in Odisha. However, incidence of breast, stomach and liver cancer cases are higher in urban than rural areas. The profiling alludes to an evolving pattern that clearly reveals how the cancer enormity in the State gradually identifying itself with the prevalent lifestyles, which is a cause of concern to the health mandarins here. The worrying fact is the National Cancer Registry of ICMR has recorded increase in absolute numbers the cases of cervical cancer across the nation. Though Odisha occupies the eleventh slot nationally in absolute numbers, the rate of incidence is more or less at par with top five States.
Significant mentioning here is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the major cause of cervical cancer. However, factors like early and multiple pregnancies, intake of oral contraceptive pills and cancer cervix in a first degree relative play a crucial causative role in cervical cancer. According to WHO (World Health Organisation), HPV infections will be more likely in conditions like poor menstrual hygiene, insertion of IUD without full asepsis, abortion done in septic conditions, having multiple sexual partners or procedures done on the cervix and the adjoining area. Some of the vulnerabilities pointed out by WHO are conspicuously present in rural Odisha. Therefore, the Health Department has to launch a massive awareness to deal with cervical menace, observed a senior Unicef official.
Even high burden of oral cancer caused by tobacco in rural areas is due to poor information and communication strategy of the State Government, alleges anti-tobacco organisations like Aparajita. Tobacco consumption among rural women is still high, yet the Government has not launched a sensitization programme involving ASHAs in a missionary model like that for communicable diseases eradication programme, opined Itishree Kanungo.