Tamil Nadu’s cancer registry data shows the disease burden has decreased, but epidemiologists say it’s inaccurate and misleading.“The lower numbers are because cases went undiagnosed during the pandemic,” says R Swaminathan, professor and head of the department of biostatistics, epidemiology and cancer registry at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar. “During Covid, disruptions to diagnosis meant some cancers were missed, bringing down the numbers recorded for 2020. Earlier projections were based on 2019 data.”Tamil Nadu cancer registry now projects 91,301 new cases for 2025, down from an earlier estimate of a little over a lakh. Under the revised projections, annual cases will cross a lakh again only in 2029.New cases fell from 78,678 in 2019 to 68,750 in 2020, then climbed to 87,156 in 2023 — about 11% above the pre-pandemic level. Cases among men increased about 6%, while those among women rose by almost 15%. “The number of cases continued to rise among both men and women even under the revised estimates. Cervical cancer was the only one that showed a declining trend,” says Swaminathan.“A lower projection does not mean reduced need for screening, diagnostic services or treatment,” says Dr J Jayashree, nodal officer for the state’s cancer mission. “We find that late diagnosis compounds the burden. Patients often reach hospitals with advanced disease, and need more complex treatment.” Although treatment at govt hospitals is free, repeated visits leave families paying for travel, food and lodging while losing wages.In Aug, the govt announced a `673cr expansion of the chief minister’s cancer care mission. “We aim to detect cancers earlier, when treatment is more likely to be curative,” says health secretary Darez Ahamed. The mission will also develop five regional cancer centres in Madurai, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Villupuram. Linked to smaller hospitals, the network is intended to bring advanced care closer to patients and reduce the cost of repeated travel.
