Cancer survival status among male population of Northeast India: A hospital based study

BACKGROUND: The northeast region of India has an overall high incidence, mortality, and lower survival rate of cancer in the country. Mortality rate is increasing mainly because of difficulties in accessing the facilities for cancer diagnosis and treatment, socioeconomic conditions, lack of awareness, taboo, misconception, and wide disparity in both diagnosis and treatment of cancers in this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were abstracted from hospital-based cancer registry of a regional treatment center from years 2010 to 2014. A total of 21,793 men were registered with cancer and 44.7% (9738/21,793) were followed up with their vital status. Kaplan–Meier method was used to generate the survival statistics. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival for all cancers in men is 24.3% with earlier stage at diagnosis has a better survival (Stage I: 52.1%) than later stage (Stage IV: 18.8%). The 5-year survival for completed cancer directed treatment is 27.5% followed by 12.5% for incomplete and 8.5% for those with no cancer-directed treatment group. Inequality in survival was observed among different sites of cancer, as some cancers harm more than others. The 5-year absolute survival for all sites was ranged from 0% to 75.8%. Cancer of liver (0%), pancreas (0%), lung (2.4%), gallbladder (7.9%), and stomach (10.3%) is found as more lethal than other cancers as the 5-year survival was in-between the range 0%–10%. Cancer of Hodgkin lymphoma (75.8%) has the highest 5-year cancer survival rate, followed by testis (60.1%), breast men (55.3%), penis (49.7%), and skin cancer (49.1%). CONCLUSION: With close to 0%–2.6% 5-year overall survival in hospital setting for cancers of liver, pancreas, and lung, respectively, it needs to mobilize resources for these three cancer sites, in terms of treatment, supportive care, and palliation.