GUWAHATI, July 14: The two-week Summer Training on Cancer Epidemiology and Biostatistics organized by the Department of Cancer Registry, Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati concluded on Friday.
The summer training was attended by master and doctoral students representing Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, and Assam Downtown University. The training was a practical oriented programme.
As per the data generated from different population-based cancer registries of the country, it is seen that during a person’s lifetime around 39.6 per cent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer. In India, it is estimated that 14.5 lakh people are living with the cancer and over nine lakh new cases are being registered every year. Around 71 per cent of all cancer related deaths will occur in the age group of 30 to 69 years.
According to Dr. Amal Chandra Kataki, “There is a need of well trained manpower to work in the field of cancer prevention and control. Cancer Registry and Epidemiology is the first step in that direction. In the North East India, less than 10 per cent of the population is currently under the network of tiol Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) of India.”
Dr. Manigreeva Krishtreya, Programme Coorditor of the two-week Summer Training has stated that BBCI is planning to extend the population coverage of cancer registries in the State.
At present, there are only three population-based cancer registries in Assam that register cancer patients residing in Dibrugarh and Cachar districts, and the resident population of Kamrup-urban area.
“At present there are 648 diagnostic centres and hospitals across the country which provides cancer data directly to the NCRP,” Dr. Krishtreya stated.