New study nails tobacco in cancer

A new study has revealed that tobacco is responsible for 32 per cent of all cancer cases in males, reports Vidya Krishnan.

Tobacco has been blamed for 32 per cent of the cancer incidences in males in the Capital by a recent study. According
to the latest figures provided by the Delhi Cancer registry, an average of ten and a half thousand new cases were registered per year during 2002 and 2003.

A study conducted by the BR Ambedkar Institute-Rotary Cancer Hospital and Terry Fox Foundation found that maximum cases were registered in age group 35-64 with a greater incidence in females as compared to males.

“It was seen that in children aged between 0-14 years and individuals less than 65 years of age, the cancer incidence is more in males. In males the most common site is lungs followed by larynx. In females the most common site is breast followed by cervix uteri,” said Dr G K Rath, IRCH Chief and Head of Department Radiotherapy, AIIMS.

According to the study, tobacco, a major cause of cancer, constitutes 33.2 per cent and 8.8 per cent of all cancers in
males and females respectively. “This is a group of cancer that is potentially avoidable if hazards of tobacco are more widely understood,” added Dr Rath.

Terry Fox Foundation India will be organising a marathon on September 16, 2007 and will donate the proceeds of the
marathon to Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital for cancer research.