Population-Based Detection of Cancer Cases Using Digital Platforms in Mangalagiri Mandal of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh

Background and objectives Cancer is one of the major causes of illness and mortality in India. The cancer burden in India will roughly triple over the next 20 years. Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are crucial not only for formulating cancer control policies and assessing their effectiveness but also offer essential inputs for programs aimed at preventing cancer. The state of Andhra Pradesh after the division in 2014 has been left with no PBCR. Hence, with the aim to pilot the development of a population-based cohort of cancer cases with digital reporting and monitoring mechanisms, this study was carried out with the objective of finding the prevalence and incidence of various types of cancer in Mangalagiri Mandal, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey during the period January 2021 to June 2022 was conducted to actively search for cancer cases among 160303 people residing in 42639 households in the Mangalagiri Mandal, Guntur district, State of Andhra Pradesh, India. The respondents were asked if anyone in the household had cancer and the location was mapped, the information was recorded by the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in the pre-tested questionnaire. The total number of cancer cases identified was 107. Results Mangalagiri Mandal had 24 cases of cancer among men and 83 cases of cancer among women as recorded during the study period. Most of the male (37.5%) and female (31.3%) cancer cases were in Stage 2 of cancer and the majority of them (91.6%, 94%) had completed their treatment and were on regular follow-up. The most common cancer among both sexes was breast cancer (5.45 per million population). Oral cancer was the most prevalent in men (0.747 per million of the population) whereas, breast cancer (4.253 per million population) was the most prevalent among females. A total of 47.1% of the males had cancer at sites that were related to tobacco usage. Conclusion The data on cancer incidence and prevalence along with the socio-demographic profile is essential to know the burden of cancer. This baseline data can be used in planning cancer control activities and knowing the future trend of cancer in the Mangalagiri Mandal, in the new state of Andhra Pradesh.