Cancer Prevalence in Terai Region of Nepal

Abstract

Background

Nepal being one of the low and middle-income countries where disease pattern shifted from communicable to non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart diseases since past. The main aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of cancer in Terai region of Nepal. The study was conducted in BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur Chitwan. The study was non-experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional and applied quantitative research design. The data was collected from the records of 800 cancer diagnosed patients of the hospital. The record was collected and analyzed from 160 randomly selected cancer cases from year 2009 to 2013 AD. The research area was divided into Terai and Hill by Chure mountain range. North to the range was Hill and south Terai.  Conclusion: Findings suggested that oral cancer cases were high in Terai region. Other cancers prevailing in the region were lung, gastric, colon, liver/gall bladder, breast, cervix etc. which signifies further research on the risk factors of oral cancer and other cancers in this region.