New Cases of Cancer in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Show Similar Figures

The data on the severity of cancer in Punjab, Himachal and Haryana was estimated by the Regional Cancer Centre at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh and was recorded in the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry. // Around 18,000 fresh cases of cancer reported at the centre in three years (2011 to 2013), about 33% were from Punjab, 21% from Haryana and 15% from Himachal Pradesh.

Based on the population proportion, experts at PGIMER report that, there is not much variation in the number of these fresh cancer cases from the three states. At the regional centres, almost 10 percent increase in the number of cancer cases was witnessed annually.

The study has found that the prevalence of the disease was 55% in men and 45% in women and the average age of cancer patients was 52 years among males and 62 among females.

Leukemia was the most common cancer among children and about 8% of the cases sought treatment for cancer at the centre. About 10.2% of the cases were reported from the age group of 15-34 years.

Cancer patients in the region of Malwa, Punjab report to show high levels of barium, lead, uranium and other metals. Healthy people also show high levels of the metal and so it may be a major risk factor.

Source-Medindia