Imphal: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reported that Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have the highest cancer incidence rates in Northeast India.
Manipur, meanwhile, has lower rates than both the regional and national averages.
BABINA Group of Companies Chairman and Managing Director Dhabali Thangjam shared the findings at a breast cancer awareness and screening event at the Manipur Press Club on Friday.
The event was jointly organised by the American Oncology Institute, Babina Specialty Hospital and the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union.
According to the data, Mizoram has the highest male cancer incidence rate in the region, at 269 cases per 100,000 men. Arunachal Pradesh records the highest female incidence rate, at 219 cases per 100,000 women.
Manipur’s figures are lower than the national averages of 105 cases per 100,000 women and 95 per 100,000 men. The state records 71.1 cases per 100,000 women and 62.8 per 100,000 men.
Thangjam said public awareness was essential for early detection and timely treatment, despite Manipur’s comparatively lower cancer rates.
He urged people not to view a cancer diagnosis as an automatic death sentence, adding that early detection can make the disease highly treatable and curable.
He also said one in nine people in India faces a lifetime risk of developing cancer. Lung cancer is the most common form among Indian men, while breast cancer is the most common among women.
Thangjam linked the decline in cervical cancer cases in the region to better hygiene and changes in lifestyle. He said avoiding tobacco and smoking was particularly important in reducing cancer risks.
Recalling the challenges patients faced in the past, he said many had to travel to Guwahati or other parts of the country for treatment because specialised facilities were not available locally.
He said the establishment of the American Oncology Institute at Babina Specialty Hospital had addressed gaps in local cancer diagnosis and treatment.