Radiotherapy Cancer Registry (Hospital Based)

Background and context: The cancer registry is the information system designed to collect, manage and analyze the data on persons with malignancy (cancer). The objective of the cancer registry is collecting, classifying, evaluation of data and analysis. The purpose of the cancer registry is to identify the incidence, have cancer awareness program and cancer control activities. Aim: To analyze the demography of cancer patients seen at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India during the period 2014-2016 and to categorize the data based on age, sex, type of cancer and geographical distribution. Strategy/Tactics: The Department of Radiation Oncology, CMC, Vellore, used to see 3500 to 5000 new patients annually with various malignancies. To develop a cancer registry, a detailed pro forma having three sections of information about the patient was developed. The first section includes patient identification information such as name, hospital ID, RT number, Hospital Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) number, date of registration, and geographic details of patients. The second section has the demographic details of the patient and the third section has the investigation details, the diagnosis and the treatment. Program/Policy process: In this study, we have collected data for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 and compiled relating to demographic data such age, sex, diagnosis site, and geographic information. For the past three years period i.e., from 2015 to 2017, there were 3691, 4177 and 5036 new patients annually seen in our outpatient section respectively. From the three years data, distribution of patients with respect to age, sex, diagnosis, state and country were analyzed. Outcomes: The maximum numbers of patient seen were head and neck followed by CNS and gynecologic malignancies. The analysis showed the total number of patients seen was increasing every year. The study when compared with respect to sex distribution, the male patients were more than the female patients. There were patients from various states of India and few patients from abroad. The details of the age group, sex, cancer types and geographical distribution will be presented. What was learned: In conclusion, we used to see patients from different parts of India and abroad annually and the number of cancer cases seen are increasing annually. While analyzing the distribution on the types of cancer, head and neck cancer were the maximum followed by CNS, breast, and gynecologic malignancies. Early detection and diagnosis of cancers, for example, head and neck, cervix, and educating the patients on breast cancer by screening methods and on self-examination methods will help to control prevalence of cancer.