40% of Tripura's cancer patients are women, tobacco to blame
What's the story
Tripura Health Minister Sudip Roy Burman has asked people, especially women, of the state to change their lifestyle to prevent cancer.
He said 2,500 new cancer patients are diagnosed every year in Tripura and 40 percent of total cancer affected patients in the state are women.
Burman said the government has decided to organize more health awareness campaigns for cancer.
Awareness
40% patients suffer from head and neck cancer
Superintendent of Regional Cancer Hospital Dr. Gautam Majumder said over 70 percent cancer patients report at an advanced stage due to lack of awareness.
He said 1,458 cancer patients died in 2016 while 3,786 patients died of cancer between 2014-2016.
Among all cancer patients in the state, 40 percent suffer from head and neck cancer mostly caused by chewable tobacco, he said.
Quote
The health minister on the change of lifestyle
"It is a matter of concern for us that the women of the state are increasingly being affected by cancer either by chewing tobacco or due to smoking. I think a change of lifestyle can help them to remain free from cancer," Burman said.
Tobacco consumption
Tripura tops NE in tobacco consumption in all its forms
Tripura tops in the northeast in tobacco consumption in all its forms, the health minister said quoting a report.
Burman said the government has planned to modernize the Regional Cancer Hospital here and also set up another cancer hospital at Ambassa in Dhalai district.
"This is our vision. Governor Tathagata Roy also mentioned this in his speech in the Assembly," he said.