GUWAHATI, Oct 31 - A CME programme on women�s cancers and the changing paradigms was held at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) recently. Cancers of the breast, uterine cervix, uterine endometrium and ovarian cancers are collectively regarded as women�s cancers.
Dr DK Vijaykumar, head of Gynaecology Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, delivered the guest lecture.
Dr Vijaykumar spoke on the recent developments in the management of this group of cancers. According to the recent report of National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), Delhi Population-based Cancer Registry (PBCR) recorded the highest age-adjusted incidence of breast cancer, while Aizawl recorded the highest incidence of uterine cervical cancer. The incidence of ovarian cancer was highest in Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh, and Chennai recorded the highest incidence for cancer of the uterine endometrium.
In Assam, Kamrup (Metro) PBCR recorded the highest incidence of cancers of the breast, uterine cervix, and ovary. The incidence of uterine endometrium was highest in Cachar district. As per the report, the incidence of women�s cancers in Assam ranges from 25 to 50 new cases per lakh women population in a given year.
The relative proportion of women�s cancers in hospitals such as Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and Adyar Cancer Hospital in Chennai shows breast cancer to be the leading cancer followed by uterine cervical cancer and ovarian cancer.
At the BBCI, breast, uterine cervical and ovarian cancers are the three common women�s cancers with a relative proportion of 16.1 per cent, 13.6 per cent, and 4.9 per cent respectively of all cancers.
A study published in the Journal of Global Oncology in which BBCI also participated, showed that State-II & III breast cancers had better survival in breast conservation surgery than modified radical mastectomy.
About 9,900 patients across 13 centres in the country participated in this study. The role of sentinel biopsy in breast and endometrial cancer was also discussed during the scientific session. With better sanitation and hygiene, improved living condition, incidence of cervical cancer in the country is gradually declining without any screening intervention.
�Thyroid cancer is very common in Kerala and the coastal belts of the country. This cancer has very favourable outcome. BBCI has the state-of-the-art Dual Head Spect Gamma Camera machine, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are routinely performed in the Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging Department of the Institute. Moreover, BBCI is going to start high-dose radio-isotope therapy, which will be the first of its kind in the North East,� Dr AC Kataki, Director, BBCI, said.
