Cancer Registry: Understand the composition in Tamil Nadu and its utility.

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer being a major health problem in India, Cancer registry plays a crucial role in formulating as well as monitoring their success. Cancer registry is an organization for systematic collection, storage analysis, interpretation and reporting of data on subjects with cancer. Objectives: To understand the cancer registration pattern in Tamil Nadu. To explore the cancer burden using cancer registry. Methodology: Type of study: Descriptive Study. Type of data: Secondary data. Tools used: Publications of NCDIR-ICMR (2012 -2014) were reviewed. Results: Population Based Cancer Registry, PBCR monitors incidence of cancers every year and Hospital Based Cancer Registry ,HBCR monitors the cancer therapy. There is one PBCR & 9 HBCR’s as of now in Tamil Nadu. Chennai is among top five PBCRs to register maximum number of cases of about 11659 and having highest crude rate The incidence of cancer was more in women than in men in both PBCR (sex ratio:87%) and HBCR (91%). Most common cancers in males were lung cancer and in females is breast cancer. Mean age of cancer was 35-64 years. Tobacco use accounts for about 22% of cancer deaths. The incidence of tobacco related cancers in HBCR&PBCR were more in males (43.1 %& 40.7%) than females(14.8%&13.8%))respectively. The incidence of childhood cancer was more in boys and Leukemia (lymphoid leukemia) was the predominant in both sexes. The microscopic examination in which primary histology was used more for diagnosis than other methods.  Conclusion: As Cancer Registry helps to assess and control the impact of cancer in the community, the number of cancer registries to be increased for better representation and for effective use.