The report from ICMR-NCDIR highlights the magnitude of cancer and its diversity in the region," said Balram Bhargava, Secretary DHR & DG, ICMR.

The National Cancer Registry Programme has played a vital role in mapping the cancer burden of the region over several years.

"The scientific evidence generated from the registries helped strengthen the health infrastructure in the region and will provide the guidance for future policy decisions", said Bhargava.

"We need to focus on early diagnosis and prevention of cancer as the report gives us valuable insights into the prevailing risk factors," said GK Rath, head of AIIMS, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute-Rotary Cancer Hospital.

In all the states, the incidence of cancer was higher in males than in females except in Manipur and Sikkim.

The commonly occurring cancers among males were cancer of the oesophagus (13.6%) and lung (10.9%), while in females, cancer of the breast was the leading site (14.5%), followed by that of cervix uteri (12.2%).

The highest incidence rate of cancer in males (269.4 per 100,000 population) was recorded in Aizawl district in Mizoram.

Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh has the highest incidence among females (219.8 per 100,000).

The proportion of tobacco-related cancers was 49.3% in males and 22.8 % in females.