Trend analysis of cancers from a hospital-based cancer registry in Kerala, India

Background: Noncommunicable diseases are assuming great importance among the adult population in both developed and developing countries. Cancer is major among them and has become one of the main health problems in the present era. Cancer registry reports in India may help to find distinct patterns in the types of cancer at a regional level, mainly due to the heterogeneity in underlying risk factors. Tailored interventions and services which intensifies the need for assessing the trends of common cancers are needed to deliver high-quality cancer care in future. Objectives: We conducted the study to assess the trend of different types of cancers during 5 years from a hospital-based cancer registry in a tertiary care hospital and to assess the sociodemographic factors associated with different cancers. Settings and Design: The register review study was conducted in a tertiary center in Thrissur, Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: Data were collected for 5 years from a hospital-based cancer registry and analyzed using the SPSS software. Results: The data consists of 10,670 cancer patients. The data of each year were analyzed separately. There were 2205 patients in 2012, 2214 patients in 2013, 2264 patients in 2014, 1848 patients in 2015, and 2189 patients in 2016. The most common cancer in each year was breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Breast cancers are more prone in women 51-60 years age group. Lung cancer is more seen in 61-70 years age group. Conclusion: The most common cancers among both sexes in all years from 2012 to 2016 were breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, there was an increasing trend of prostate cancer and decrease of esophageal, acute leukemia, and ovarian cancers.