835 found suffering from cancer in 8 mths

Patna: At least 835 people out of 46,000 were found suffering from cancer in the state during random screening in the last eight months. Oral, uterine and breast cancer accounted for maximum number of cases.

Meanwhile, the state government has decided to expand the facility of palliative care for cancer patients to 17 districts from existing six districts.

The health department is carrying out the screening in all 38 districts in association with Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), Muzaffarpur. Between November 2022 and July this year, 46,000 people were screened and 835 of them were found suffering from cancer. The break-up shows 299 cases were of oral cancer, followed by 138 breast cancer, 144 uterine and 254 other types of cancer.

Officer in-charge of HBCHRC, Dr Ravikant, said the number of oral cancer cases was high because of excessive consumption of tobacco by people. He said screening is being done at community health centres, primary health centres and other places. Community health officers and Asha workers have been roped in to facilitate the screening programme. People in the age group of 30 years to 65 years are mainly being screened.

Appreciating the state government's efforts to provide healthcare facilities to cancer patients, Dr Ravikant said, "The screening started around two-and-a-half-years back and over eight lakh people have been screened so far."

He said a meeting was held by the health department recently to review the palliative care being provided in six districts. "The department has decided to expand the facility to 17 districts by November. Two doctors and two nurses from each of the 17 district hospitals will be given training on handling cancer patients," Dr Ravikant said.