PANAJI
The number of cancer cases in Goa has been on the rise in recent years. In 2021, there were 440 new cases of cancer detected in the state. This number increased to 843 in 2022, and 1,273 in 2023.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane made the figures public recently, stating that breast cancer cases in Goa have risen alarmingly. From 2020 to 2023, there were 699 new breast cancer cases and 135 new cases of uterus cancer.
In 2020 there were 138 cases of breast cancer in the age 51-60, which was 131 in 2021, 113 in 2022 and 52 in 2023 till date.
Rane told the state assembly that the Directorate of Health Services does the screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and oral cancer at the Primary Health Centre level.
He also said that breast cancer detection at primary health centre level and at community level has been going on for the last two years as part of the Swastha Mahila Swastha Goa initiative where over 50,000 women have been screened for breast cancer.
Awareness drives for oral cancer and cervical cancer are also carried out as part of the government’s initiative ‘Satark’ in association with Indian Cancer Society.
