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Cancer Incidence and Epidemiological Trends in Punjab: A Population-Based Registry Analysis for State-Level Health Policy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze cancer incidence and mortality patterns based on population-based cancer registry data for a defined region in Punjab, India, covering the period from January 2012 to December 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Active hospital and laboratory surveillance and community health worker monitoring identified cases, which were validated using CanReg5 for accuracy. We determined age-adjusted incidence rates (AARs) together with crude rates (CRs) and mortality-to-incidence ratios (M/I %). RESULTS: A total of 11,471 new cancer cases were recorded, comprising 5,394 (47.0%) men and 6,077 (53.0%) women. The AARs were 108.2 per 100,000 in men and 124.6 per 100,000 in women. The overall CR was 92.7 per 100,000, and the M/I % was 26.9%. The most common cancer sites were the esophagus (987; 18.3%) in men and breast (1,489; 24.5%) in women. Rural residents had higher M/I % (28.5%) than urban residents (24.3%; p = 0.003), indicating later-stage diagnosis and care barriers. The Indian registries recorded the highest incidence of childhood lymphoma among girls. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the immediate requirement for specific awareness programs and early detection initiatives that should focus on rural regions to decrease Punjab's cancer statistics.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.87339