Cancer death : state of Mizoram

Mizoram seems to be the cancer capital of India. The Mizoram Economics & Statistical Department published a book called ‘Statistical Abstracts of Mizoram 2009’ which revealed 593 cancer deaths (which comprises 12.72 per cent of all deaths in the state) in 2004 that rose to 618 (13.18 per cent of deaths) in 2005. In 2006, 2007 and 2008; the cancer related deaths accounted for 12.82 per cent, 13.08 per cent and 11.71 per cent of all deaths in the state respectively.

A study by Mizoram Population Based Cancer Registry (MPBCR) suggests that between 2003 and 2008, 6,748 new cancer cases had been diagnosed and 3,302 cancer patients died in the period. The situation is only getting worse. An ICMR study released in February 2011 showed that cancer cases per lakh of population in Mizoram was now 459, the highest in India. In fact, this figure beats even the worst cancer-stricken nation in the world, Netherlands, which has around 433 cancer cases per lakh.

What's going wrong with people in Mizoram? There's a most urgent need for the central and state government to wake up to this unbelievable cancer situation.

The previously mentioned MPBCR study shows that the most common type of cancer is stomach cancer which comprises 23.1 per cent of all cancer cases. The Head of Pathology Department, Aizwal Civil Hospital, Dr. Eric Zomawia mentions that stomach cancer, hypo pharynx cancer, tongue cancer, and oesophageal cancer make up the top four. And the reason is not far to find. The lifestyle of the people of Mizoram has to be blamed for such an alarming rate of malignancy! Exceedingly high consumption of tobacco (both smoking and chewing) along with smoked meat, betel nut and alcohol has contributed to this situation.

The Chief of Tobacco Cessation Clinic at the Civil Hospital based in Aizwal, Dr Jane R Ralte, reveals that in Mizoram, 22.1 per cent of women smoke tobacco – a sharp contrast to the national figure which is 2.5 per cent! Dr. Mrinmoy Barua, the Secretary of an NGO called Deepshikha (involved in dealing with cancer catastrophe in North East) tells TSI that although Mizoram is the epicentre of cancer in India, things are nothing better in other parts of North East!

In the detection camp that they undergo frequently in Mizoram, as many as 40 per cent of the patients going through the check-up were detected with cancer. Among the rest, another 20 per cent are in pre-malignancy stage – which is likely to develop into full blown malignancy in a few years! And this happens, as Barua reiterates, “because taking tobacco or tobacco related products is a social norm. Refusing it is a social crime!”

The state government needs to act fast to curb tobacco, cigarette and alcohol consumption. Mobilising the community, empowering and educating them about the ill effects of tobacco and the hazards it creates is the only way to change the lifestyle of Mizoram. It is evident that little has been done so far as Mizoram's first Chief Minister and the motivational leader of Mizo National Front, Laldenga, himself died of terminal cancer!