The picturesque Mizoram has the highest occurrence of four types of cancer in the world and the cause is extensive consumption of tobacco, experts said. “Mizoram led the world in the number of cases of Hypopharynx cancer (Male), Tongue cancer (Male), Stomach cancer (male & female) and Esophageal cancer (male),” Dr Eric Zomawia, head of the pathology department in the Civil hospital here said.
“Aizwal has the highest number of cancer patients in the state followed by other districts like Serchhip, Champhai, Lunglei and Mamit,” said Zomawia. About 40 per cent of the cancer can be prevented by changing lifestyle of the Mizos, opined the doctor. Extensive consumption of tobacco by both the genders coupled with consumption of smoked meat, leads to high incidence of cancer, he said.
Dr Jane R. Ralte, officer-on-special duty and head of the Tobacco Cessation Clinic in the Aizawl Civil Hospital, also confirmed the fact that excessive tobacco chewing and smoking, highly prevalent among Mizos is one of the cause of high rate of cancer in the state. “About 1,85,557 members of the church consume tobacco, which accounts to 77 per cent of the total members of the church. Out of this, 47 per cent are women,” Ralte said quoting a study done by Mizoram Presbyterian Church Women Ministry in 2004.
“As much as 22.1 per cent of the women in the state indulge in smoking as contrast to the national figure at 2.5 per cent. Besides, 60 per cent of the Mizo women use various forms of tobacco, other than smoking,” Ralte said. “According to the National Family Health Survey conducted in 1998-99, Mizoram tops the list of tobacco consumption,” she said during a seminar on Cancer Prevention, organised by the Rotary Club of Aizawl recently.
Stressing the need for a tobacco-free environment in Mizoram, Ralte said, “second hand smoke inhalation increased the risk of heart disease and lung cancer by 25 per cent, endangering the lives of children and other non-smokers.” “Mizos, both male and female, has the highest incidence of stomach cancer followed by cancer of the lungs and the esophagus,” Zomawia said.
Apart from smoking, consumption of fermented pork, smoked meat and vegetable and poisoned wild animal meat, including fish and crabs also attributed to the high incidence of cancer in the state, he said. To combat this killer disease, the state has well equipped Aizawl Civil Hospital, which has been declared as the Regional Cancer Centre by the centre recently, Zomawia said adding, a Population Based Cancer Registry is also established in Aizawl to keep track of the cancer cases.
“Aizwal has the highest number of cancer patients in the state followed by other districts like Serchhip, Champhai, Lunglei and Mamit,” said Zomawia. About 40 per cent of the cancer can be prevented by changing lifestyle of the Mizos, opined the doctor. Extensive consumption of tobacco by both the genders coupled with consumption of smoked meat, leads to high incidence of cancer, he said.
Dr Jane R. Ralte, officer-on-special duty and head of the Tobacco Cessation Clinic in the Aizawl Civil Hospital, also confirmed the fact that excessive tobacco chewing and smoking, highly prevalent among Mizos is one of the cause of high rate of cancer in the state. “About 1,85,557 members of the church consume tobacco, which accounts to 77 per cent of the total members of the church. Out of this, 47 per cent are women,” Ralte said quoting a study done by Mizoram Presbyterian Church Women Ministry in 2004.
“As much as 22.1 per cent of the women in the state indulge in smoking as contrast to the national figure at 2.5 per cent. Besides, 60 per cent of the Mizo women use various forms of tobacco, other than smoking,” Ralte said. “According to the National Family Health Survey conducted in 1998-99, Mizoram tops the list of tobacco consumption,” she said during a seminar on Cancer Prevention, organised by the Rotary Club of Aizawl recently.
Stressing the need for a tobacco-free environment in Mizoram, Ralte said, “second hand smoke inhalation increased the risk of heart disease and lung cancer by 25 per cent, endangering the lives of children and other non-smokers.” “Mizos, both male and female, has the highest incidence of stomach cancer followed by cancer of the lungs and the esophagus,” Zomawia said.
Apart from smoking, consumption of fermented pork, smoked meat and vegetable and poisoned wild animal meat, including fish and crabs also attributed to the high incidence of cancer in the state, he said. To combat this killer disease, the state has well equipped Aizawl Civil Hospital, which has been declared as the Regional Cancer Centre by the centre recently, Zomawia said adding, a Population Based Cancer Registry is also established in Aizawl to keep track of the cancer cases.
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