Fighting Cancer Arunachal Shows The Way

Arunachal Pradesh is facing a high cancer burden as a result of the wide disparity in diagnosis and treatment of cancers

- Yomge Chisi

Such has been the plight of cancer patients who, while fighting a grave disease, also had to bear the ordeal of travelling far from the comfort of home, and camp in pitiable accommodation to receive life saving treatment. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) population-based cancer registry’s 201114 data, Arunachal Pradesh registered about 2,500 cancer cases, with Papum Pare district having reported a total of 802 cancer cases, closely followed by East Siang (326), and West Siang (307).

Arunachal Pradesh also has the highest number of liver cancer patients in the country and the second highest stomach cancer cases in the world after China, as stated by the Indian Council of Medical Research. According to oncologists, increased consumption of alcohol is leading to increased liver cancer cases in the State. Moreover, consumption of smoked meat and fermented food in high quantities in various parts of the State contribute to high instances of stomach cancer. People in countries with similar food habits, like China, Japan and Taiwan, also suffer from high incidences of stomach cancer.

Bringing the Change

Treatment of cancer, as expensive as ever, has left many people in the State bankrupt. There are many sad stories where patients or their family members had to sell their land, valuable ornaments and Mithun (bovine) in order to travel outside the State to receive treatment.