The Morung Express interacted with Dr. Talitemsu, MD, Radiation Oncologist with Oking Hospital in Kohima. He said that 70-80 % of cancers are preventable and curable if detected early. He also informed that common cancers detected in Nagaland in men are Ca. Nasopharynx, Ca.stomach and Ca. Oesophagus. While in women the commonest are Ca. Cervix (womb), and Ca. Breast and Ca Ovary. He also said food habits are an important factor related to cancer while heredity plays another important role. “Smoked meat is also one major cause” he said referring to the Naga people’s love for smoked meat and the almost daily consumption by most Nagas. “When we treat patients who belong to the Lotha (Kyong) tribe from the Naga community we see that mostly stomach cancer is the problem and we are ‘assuming’ it’s the result of excess consumption of bamboo shoot and chilies” he said.
Naga food habits also aggravate the problem of cancer he said. Speaking on the whether there has been an increased number of patients in Nagaland he said that “nowadays we have cancer detecting instruments so there is more exposure to the disease, otherwise we cannot say that there is a drastic rise.”
“Skin Cancer, another form of cancer is not common for Nagas. It’s mostly found in westerners” he said. “Pan masalas, ghutkas and other tobacco products are also one major cause of Oral Cancer”, he said.
Cancer is a disease that the Naga society should look out for. Reportedly, the disease has seen a huge increase in recent years in Nagaland. With Naga people love of alcohol, ghutkas, Pan and lack of exercise and fitness activities, its only befitting that a loud alarm should be sounded for the people, the government, and medical personnel’s to be more vigilant about cancer.
UICC, the only international NGO dedicated uniquely to the global control of cancer on World cancer Day, February 4, 2010 calls for coordinated action against infections that contribute to the global cancer burden. On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Cervical Cancer Action (CCA) coalition and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) also called for the implementation of comprehensive strategies to reduce cervical cancer — one of the leading causes of cancer among women in developing countries, and the second most common cancer in women worldwide.