GUWAHATI, Oct 29 - With a view to promoting academic and research collaboration, the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) signed an MoU with The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada on Wednesday.
The MoU was signed by Dr Helmut W Unruh, Provincial Lead, Surgical Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director of BBCI.
�The purpose of the collaboration is to enhance skill and experience of the trainees, faculty members as well as paramedical staff at various levels of their training by focused short-term exposure in a different clinical set-up. This will also enhance the exchange of ideas and facilitate research activities,� Dr Kataki said.
Head and neck cancer, especially oral and hypopharyngeal cancers, are major health problems in Asia. India alone accounts for about one-third of all oral cancer patients of the world every year.
�India is called the oral cancer capital of the world. Most of the oral cancers in India are gingivo-buccal sulcus tumor, whereas the oral cancer in North America mostly arises from the tongue and floor of the mouth. Thyroid and skin cancers are the commonest head and neck malignancies in Manitoba, but are not very common in India. In the hilly states of north-eastern India, cancer of nasopharynx is quite common, but is rare in the Caucasian population,� Dr Kataki said.
Dr KA Pathak, professor of surgery and Director, Surgical Fellowships, University of Manitoba, Canada had recently visited BBCI and participated in clinical and academic programmes of the institute.
About 10-11 lakh new cancer patients are detected every year in India. The incidence of cancer as per Population Based Cancer Registry of Indian Council of Medical Research, is highest in the northeastern region. Tobacco-related cancer constitutes 55-60 per cent of all cancers in men and 25-30 per cent in women.
�Cancer of oesophagus, hypopharynx and oral cavity is very high in Assam. There are limited cancer treatment facilities in the north-eastern region. Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute is the only comprehensive cancer centre catering to the needs of the eight north-eastern states,� Dr Kataki said.
