Cancer in women in Kerala--a transition from a less-developed state.

An epidemiologic assessment of the problem of cancer in women in Kerala based on 3 Population Cancer Registry data and a Hospital Based data is presented. Kerala's Socio-economic and demography presents an intermediate development from a less developed to a better-developed state. As yet, the women follow a tradition-based life style. Cancer incidence rate in Kerala was only 80% of urban rates than seen in Urban Metropolis in India. The pattern of site distribution has shown that GI, Breast and Cervix cancers are the predominant cancers. Oral cavity cancers also show a high frequency. Thyroid cancer has a higher incidence rate in Kerala compared to other areas. Lung cancer among women has higher incidence rate in Karunagappally women. A high prevalence of tobacco use is reported among the men in the above area. Breast cancer incidence rate in the rural areas was only 60% of the rate seen in Urban Trivandrum. Unlike in other rural and urban areas of India Cervix cancer has a low incidence rate in Kerala women. This may be due to better education and also due to the changes in marital and other life style practices. Only 15% of cancer patients attend for medical assistance in localized stage of disease. The need for public education is highlighted and focusing on tobacco use control, self-examination and screening.

Low dose radiation--a curse or a boon?

The increased use of nuclear technology has created fear in the minds of people regarding its possible adverse effects on living systems. This fear is heightened by press reports of nuclear fallouts and of high levels of natural background radiation in geographical areas in a number of countries. The International Commission on Radiological Protection and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation estimate the risk of cancer from high dose exposure to be 4.5% to 7.1% per sievert depending on the projection model used. However, when the exposure is to low dose background radiation, the available data does not show an increased risk. This is possibly due to the effectiveness of the inherent repair capacity of the living cell. These observations have given rise to the 'hormesis' hypothesis. Low dose radiation has in fact been found to be immunostimulatory and this is now being exploited as a possible treatment modality in cancer patients.