CHILDHOOD CANCER: EMERGING TRENDS IN CHENNAI, INDIA

Dr P Sajna*, Dr G Srinivas, Dr S Kalpana, Dr S Valarmathi, Dr Joseph Maria Adaikalam

The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

Compared to developed countries, only a limited number of studies systematically engage with India’s experience with the burden of childhood cancer and its implications for public healthcare in the country. As per the estimates, the incidence rate of cancer among children in India ranges from 38 to 124 per million children per year and Chennai city reported with high incidence. Given this background, this study aims to assess the long-term trend in the incidence of cancerous conditions, demographic factors, and burden of the disease among children. The study has used the Madras Metropolitan Tumour Registry (MMTR), covering cancer cases reported among children (0-14 years) in Chennai for the last 34 years (1982-2016). The study analyses theincidence of the paediatric tumor for different age groups, gender, and type of cancer and the long-term trend over the years and compares the same with existing studies. The trend indicates that more cases are reported during 2007-11 and the least number of cases are reported during 2012-16 (respectively 16.7% and 11.9% of total cases reported)

Keywords:

Childhood cancer, paediatric cancer, tumour