Publication:

Profile and burden of cancers in Assam: an insight from Assam Cancer Care Foundation hospitals

Background The North-Eastern region of India, particularly Assam, reports among the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country. To address this growing burden, the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) was established through a partnership between Tata trusts and the government of Assam, implementing a Distributed cancer care model across the state. This study examines the cancer burden, patterns, and trends among patients attending ACCF hospitals.

Methods Patient data, including demographic characteristics, clinical profile, and diagnosis, were extracted from the Medical records department (MRD) module of the Hospital management information system (HMIS). Data from May 2022 to September 2024 were cleaned, compiled in Microsoft excel, and analyzed to identify key trends and cancer patterns.

Results Most patients were above 50 years of age. More than 95% reported a history of addiction, highlighting the widespread prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use. Oral cavity, breast, esophageal, and lower Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers were the most common cancer sites among patients attending ACCF hospitals. Among males, oral cavity, esophageal, upper GI, and lower GI cancers predominated, whereas breast, gallbladder, and lower GI cancers were the leading malignancies among females.

Conclusions Oral cavity, breast, esophageal, and lower GI cancers constitute the major cancer burden in Assam. The predominance of cancers associated with tobacco and alcohol use, coupled with the high prevalence of addiction and older age among patients, underscores the need for strengthened prevention, early detection, and control strategies.