An estimate of the prevalence of cancer in India

Estimates of cancer prevalence may be based on necropsy findings, on clinical and hospital records, on the data contained in cancer registers, or on death registration statistics. All of these sources suffer from certain limitations and are more or less incomplete depending on the locality. Assuming complete records to be available, the authors examine the theoretical relationships between the four sources. On the basis of death registration statistics, estimates are made of cancer prevalence in the Calcutta Corporation area by site, age, and sex. Evidence is presented that the ratio of cancer deaths to deaths from all causes in the Calcutta area may be taken as representative of the country as a whole. By making other assumptions regarding the national death rate and the duration of life with cancer, the authors are able to deduce a figure of approximately 600 000 for the prevalence of cancer in India.