SHILLONG, May 23: Around 8,000 deaths related to tobacco use are recorded every year in Meghalaya, which reports the highest cancer cases in the country, said NEIGRIHMS Surgical Oncology Associate Professor Dr Caleb Harris on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters ahead of World No Tobacco Day which falls on May 31, Dr Harris said that 70 per cent of cancer cases in Meghalaya are caused by tobacco, even as he said that two of the three cancers can be reduced in the state if one stops the use of tobacco.
Maintaining that the overall incidence of cancer prevalence in Meghalaya is 131 per lakh population, he said that the common cancer in Meghalaya is esophagus cancer.
“Esophagus (cancer cases) is 10 times national average. The national average of esophagus cancer is 5 per lakh population and in Meghalaya it is 50 to 70 per lakh population which is the highest in the country and among the highest in the world,” Dr Caleb said.
According to him, if a person has esophagus cancer and it is difficult to treat it even with the best of treatment.
“Within three-four years, the cancer disease may come back. The chance of survival of esophagus cancer is only 20 to 25 per cent,” he said.
Replying to a query, Dr Harris said that NEIGRIHMS receives between 1,000 and 1,200 new cancer cases in a year.
State Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Dr Lana Lyngdoh Nongbri said that tobacco use is a huge burden and it has a big impact on the society.
“The prevalence of cancer in Meghalaya is 47 per cent,” she said.
Dr Nongbri said that this year, observance of World No Tobacco Day in the state is important since children between the age group of 13 and 15 years have already initiated the use of tobacco.
“As per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, the prevalence of cancer among the youth is almost 34 per cent. Our youth is already exposed to different forms of tobacco. We are trying our best to save our children of Meghalaya from tobacco,” State Nodal Officer of NTCP said.
She said that they are working head-on with every stakeholder to fight against tobacco menace in the state.
Dr Nongbri also said that they had launched the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) programme in March 2021 in collaboration with Sambandh Health Foundation.
Under this programme, all schools were asked to carry out two activities — a rally against tobacco and a signature campaign.
Meanwhile, State Nodal Officer of NTCP said that this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day is ‘My Meghalaya, Tobacco-Free Meghalaya’, which aims to make Meghalaya tobacco-free.
