CURRENT CANCER TRENDS AND THE NEED FOR PALLIATIVE CARE AT A CANCER CARE CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA

Abstract

Cancer has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Lower middle income countries where patients are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer than in High income countries. The WHO’s Global Report categorises India as lacking integrated palliative care, with patchy activity. Lack of prioritisation of palliative care at the governmental level hampers adequate policy responses, resulting in restrictive regulation.Optimal development and implementation of cancer control systems requires an understanding of existing patterns of disease, treatment, and outcomes in LMICs. A Retrospective study was undertaken in the Department of radiotherapy and oncology, Government medical college, Anantapuramu, Andhrapradesh, India between the period of January 2021 to December 2022 to study the current trends of carcinoma in patients presenting with advanced cancer and their need for palliative care services at a tertiary care cancer hospital. More than 50% of the subjects belong to 41 to 60 years age group (51.6%) followed by greater than 60 years age Female to male ratio was 2.2:1.65.83% of patients presented with stage III and stage IV cancers, with physical, psychosocial and emotional problems. In view of presentation of advanced cancers at Medical college attached cancer hospital there is a need to develop palliative care services at Medical college cancer departments as per national cancer control program (NCCP) and WHO guidelines.