scieee AI-readable full text Open interactive document viewer

Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata: A Cross-sectional Study

Mondal, Premankur; Kumar, Ranjan; Halder, Ritam; Sarkar, Shreyam; Sen, Poulami; Sarkar, Prerana; Das, Purba; Banerje, Rahul; Raj, Rishav; Dey, Ritosree; Afreen, Saba; Kumar, Sandesh; Sil, Sangam; Shambhavi; Ghosh, Saptarshi; Chakraborty, Nabanita; Gazi,

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Cancer is one of the important challenges of the health system worldwide and especially in developing countries, like India. Sociodemographic factors as well as lifestyle changes can be attributed to the rise of this disease. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiotherapy out-patient department of the NRSMC&H for a period of 1 month on 188 patients. Data collection was done using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire and history regarding socio-demographic Variables, history of comorbidity, family history of cancer in first degree relative/ Type of Cancer/s has been collected. Results: Organ specific distribution of cancer shows that cancers were commonest in the breast (21.3%).There was a higher breast cancer rate in females (38.8%) and higher lung cancer rate in males (16.7%). Urban residents show a higher proportion of head and neck cancers (23.4%), while rural areas have more gastro-intestinal cases (19.4%). The prevalence of head and neck cancers among those with a history of addiction was 36.7% Conclusion: Cancer in the study population was concentrated among middle-aged males of lower socio-economic status. Lifestyle factors, particularly tobacco use, a]were strongly correlated with a higher proportion of head and neck cancers. Distinct gender and geographical variations were marked in many cancer types.

Full text

Volume 3 Issue 1 (Jul-Dec) 2025 Original Article (1) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. Published by: Eureka Scientech Research Foundation, Kolkata. Online access: https://esrfrjums.co.in Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata: A Cross-sectional Study Submission: 27th August, 2025 Acceptance: 7th October, 2025 DOI:10.5281/ zenodo.17362377 Available from: https:// esrfrjums.co.in/index.php/main/ article/view/72 Premankur Mondal,1 Ranjan Kumar,1 Ritam Halder,1 Shreyam Sarkar,1 Poulami Sen,1 Prerana Sarkar,1 Purba Das,1 Rahul Banerje,1 Rishav Raj,1 Ritosree Dey,1 Saba Afreen,1 Sandesh Kumar,1 Sangam Sil,1 Shambhavi,1 Saptarshi Ghosh,1 Nabanita Chakraborty,2 Eashin Gazi,3 1MBBS Student (2022-23), Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata. 3Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jhargram Government Medical College & Hospital, Jhargram. Abstract Introduction: Cancer is one of the important challenges of the health system worldwide and especially in developing countries, like India. Sociodemographic factors as well as lifestyle changes can be attributed to the rise of this disease. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiotherapy outpatient department of the NRSMC&H for a period of 1 month on 188 patients. Data collection was done using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire and history regarding socio-demographic Variables, history of comorbidity, family history of cancer in first degree relative/ Type of Cancer/s has been collected. Results: Organ specific distribution of cancer shows that cancers were commonest in the breast (21.3%).There was a higher breast cancer rate in females (38.8%) and higher lung cancer rate in males (16.7%). Urban residents show a higher proportion of head and neck cancers (23.4%), while rural areas have more gastro-intestinal cases (19.4%). The prevalence of head and neck cancers among those with a history of addiction was 36.7% Conclusion: Cancer in the study population was concentrated among middle-aged males of lower socio-economic status. Lifestyle factors, particularly tobacco use, a]were strongly correlated with a higher proportion of head and neck cancers. Distinct gender and geographical variations were marked in many cancer types. Corresponding Author Dr. Nabanita Chakraborty Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, NRS Medical College, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata-14 e-mail: nabanitac[email protected] Keywords: neoplasms, socio-economic factors, cross-sectional studies, co-morbidity, tobacco INTRODUCTION Cancer is emerging as a major public health challenge in developing countries, driven by demographic shifts such as population aging and the widespread adoption of risk-laden lifestyle choices, including tobacco use and sedentary behaviour.1,2 India, in particular, is undergoing a significant epidemiological transition, with cancer incidence rising sharply, especially in urban centres where rapid lifestyle modifications and environmental factors have exacerbated the problem.3 According to recent estimates, India accounted for 7.8% of the global cancer burden and 8.2% of global cancer deaths in 2018, earning it the sobering designation of the “Cancer capital of the world”.4 The impact of cancer in India extends far beyond the sheer number of cases and fatalities. The disease inflicts profound psychological, economic, and emotional trauma on patients and their families, straining the social fabric and healthcare infrastructure.5 The economic burden alone is staggering, with cancer costing the nation an estimated USD 0.8 million annually and projections indicating a substantial increase in both prevalence and associated costs in the coming years.6 Urban areas face a higher incidence of cancers linked to lifestyle and behavioural risk factors, while rural populations grapple with limited access to timely diagnosis and treatment, compounding disparities in outcomes.7 Despite the magnitude of the problem, there remains a dearth of comprehensive studies examining the clinico-social profiles of cancer patients in India, particularly in those attending tertiary care institutions in West Bengal for treatment. Addressing this gap is essential for planning effective Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (2) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. control measures, screening programs, and treatment facilities. It helps to identify which population groups allow for the development of targeted interventions for prevention, early detection, and management of cancer.8,9,10 MATERIALS AND METHODS Study type and design: The present study was a descriptive study with cross sectional design Study Setting: Radiotherapy out-patient department of the NRSMC&H. . Study Period: The study was conducted between 1st April 2024 and 30th April 2024, a period of 1 month. Study Population: All cancer patients attending the Radiotherapy OPD of NRSMCH. Inclusion Criteria: i. Cancer patients attending the radiotherapy OPD for first time ii. Cancer patients willing to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: i. Patients too sick to answer the questionnaire ii. First degree relatives of patients being treated at the study setting for cancer Sample size and sampling technique: Complete Sample size was calculated using the formula for estimation of proportion Where, Z21-α/2 = critical value of the Normal distribution at α/2 p = proportion of male patients in the study population d = margin of error Considering α error of 5%, p=52.5% (as the proportion of male patients in the study population (based on the study by Puri et al,11) and an absolute error of 10%, the calculated sample size was 150. Adding 20% for incomplete and inaccurate entries, the final sample size as 150+30= 180. However, the final study sample was 188. Sampling Technique: All eligible patients attending the radiotherapy outpatient department in the study period were recruited consecutively till the desired sample size was reached Study Tools: The following study tools were used in the present study ● Predesigned and pretested questionnaire ● Prescriptions of the patients Study Technique: The study participants were interviewed using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Information was obtained about their sociodemographic profile like age, gender, occupation, education, religion family history, socioeconomic status etc. Information was also obtained regarding type of cancer, comorbidity status, history of addiction and scrutiny of prescriptions were done. Data Collection Method: A total of 33 students went for data collection, they were divided into 6 batches comprising of 5 or 6 students each. Every student took 5 to 6 interviews of the patients from 10:30am to 12:30 pm everyday Study Variables a. Socio-demographic Variable: Age in years/ Gender/ Religion/ Residence/Education/Occupation/Total monthly income of family/Socioeconomic status/Marital Status/Type of family/ History of addiction/History of comorbidity b. For determining Clinical profile: Family History of cancer in first degree relative/Type of Cancer(s) Ethical Issues As this was a student project, prior to data collection, necessary permissions were obtained from the institutional authorities. Participants were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their responses. Those identified to be at high risk for falls or with untreated medical issues were referred to the nearest healthcare facilities for further evaluation and management. Operational Definitions 1. Addiction: Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. (American Society of Addiction Medicine) 2. Current Disease Status: It is the perception of the patient regarding improvement in his/her health after the beginning of the treatment. 3. Current mode of treatment: It refers to the mode of treatment which the patient is receiving presently or being followed up for. Plan for data analysis All collected data were entered into and cleaned using MS Excel (Microsoft Corp. USA). Mean, Standard Deviation and Percentage were calculated as well as data were presented through table and chart with the help of MS Excel RESULT Most of the patients in the study population were between 40-59 year old (51.5%), males (52.1%), of Hindu religion (75%), married (88.3%) and resided in urban areas (66%) in nuclear families (58%). Majority were educated till secondary level (35.6%), homemakers (46.8%), with a monthly family income of 1000-10000 rupees (53.7%). According to the modified BG Prasad scale most patients (29.1%) belonged to the lower socio-economic class. A history of Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (3) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. addiction was found in 34.4% of the patients, while associated comorbidities were reported by 26.6% of the patients. Family history of cancer in first degree relatives was reported by 18.6% of the patients in the study population. (Table 1) Of the 60 patients who had history of addiction, 72.6% used tobacco (smoked/smokeless/both), 21.7% were addicted to both tobacco (smoked/smokeless/both) and alcohol, while only 13.8% consumed alcohol regularly. Of the 50 patients who had an associated comorbidity, hypertension was seen in 46%, diabetes in 38%, thyroid disorders in 10% and Other like asthma, COPD, anemia, myocardial infarction in 10%. Organ specific distribution of cancer shows that cancers were commonest in the breast (21.3%), oral cavity (9%) and lung (8.5%) (Table 2). There was a higher breast cancer rate in females (38.8%) (among the females with cancer 38.8% had breast cancer) and higher lung cancer rate in males (16.7%). Urban residents show a higher proportion of head and neck cancers (23.4%), while rural areas have more gastro-intestinal cases (19.4%). The data also highlights disparities, such as a notable prevalence of head and neck cancers among those with a history of addiction (36.7%). (Table 3) DISCUSSION Cancer is a major public health problem in India, as well as globally. Epidemiological transition is fueling a rapid increase in the incidence of cancer in many low and middle-income countries like India.12 Understanding of the socio-demographics of the disease will help in identifying high risk groups, planning preventive services and prioritizing resource allocation for cancers. In the present study the mean (SD) age of patients was 49.7 (15.7) years with most patients belonging to the 40-59 years (51.1%) and 6180 years (26.1%) age groups. Similar distribution of patients spanning various age groups, with peaks in the 41–60 year cohort (40.6%) and significant representation in the 61–80-year group (30.4%) were reported by Normen et al,13 from an outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in south India. A retrospective study conducted in patients in a similar setting in northern India, reported maximum number of cancer cases was seen in 6th decade in males and 5th decade in females.14 Another north Indian study found 43% of patients in the 40 –69-year age group followed by 40.1% in the 60–79-year age group.15 Childhood cancers are defined as cancers occurring in individuals from birth up to 19 years of age. This age range includes both pediatric cancers (affecting infants to children up to age 14) and adolescent cancers (affecting those aged 15 to 19).16 In the present study 9 of the 188 (4.8%) patients had childhood cancers, similar to the proportion of childhood cancers among all cancers (4.6%) as reported from 96 hospital-based cancer registries (HBCRs) during 2012-19.17 The most commonly reported cancers were Lymphoma and leukemias, osteo and soft tissue sarcomas and brain tumors (22.2% each). This distribution of cancer is in concordance with other studies from India.18 An overall male predominance is consistently observed in studies on cancer patients in India, with male-to-female ratios ranging from 41.9% in Northern India,19 to 85% male representation in head-andneck cancer cohorts.20 Gender based distribution of cancers show a higher proportion of head and neck cancer in males (27.8%) compared to females (2.2%). In females the proportion of breast cancer (38.8%) and reproductive tract cancers (20.4%) were substantially higher than males with breast (2.2%) and reproductive tract cancers (1.1%). Another study from Chandigarh, reported the commonest cancer (Ca) in males was Ca lung (40.9) and Ca oesophagus (9.8). In females most common cancer were Ca breast (23.9) followed by Ca cervix (11.7).21 The present study cohort also matched cancer cohorts reported from other studies from different parts on India attending similar study settings, in terms of the education, occupation and socioeconomic status.22,23 Common Cancer Types System wise distribution of cases revealed that in the present study, breast cancer was the commonest (21.3%), followed by head and neck cancers (19.1%). Other systems involved in decreasing proportions were abdomen (18.1%), reproductive system (11.2%), urinary tract (11.2%) lungs (8.5%), brain (5.9%), osteo and soft tissue sarcomas (4.8%) and leukemia and lymphomas (2.1%). Gothwal et al,24 reported head and neck cancers as the most common (30%) in their study cohort from North India, followed by lung (16.6%) and gastrointestinal tract cancers as the 3rd most common group (11.4%). Organ specific distribution of cancer shows that the commonest cancers in the present cohort were breast cancer (33.9%), oral cavity and associated structures like tongue and vocal cords (16.1%) and lung cancers (13.6%). Xavier et al,25 in their tertiary care cancer cohort reported breast (21.3%), liver/bile duct cancers (14.7%) and lung cancer (8.7%) as the commonest cancers. Another retrospective record-based study in Maharashtra by Bangal et al,26 showed that overall cancer cervix was the commonest site (19.5%), followed by cancer breast (10.2%), cancer of the lung (9.7%) and cancer of the floor of mouth (7.3%), in their study population of 205 cancer patients attending the outpatient cancer department of a medical college. Addictions In the present study among patients with addiction, the commonest cancers reported were of the head and neck (36.7%), followed by lungs (15%) and urinary tract (15%). Rates of smoking and alcohol consumption in females is significantly lower in males as reported ubiquitously in studies from all parts of India.27,28 The higher proportion of oral (head and neck) and lung cancers in patients in males could be due to this higher consumption of tobacco and alcohol addiction among them. Tobacco consumption is regarded as the most important avoidable cancer risk, with 25 and 30% of all cancers in developed countries attributed to tobacco.29 The relation of alcohol and cancer has also been well established in several studies, with higher consumption associated with a greater risk of developing cancer.30 Bangal et al,31 observed that most of the patients (47.7%) in their study gave a history of tobacco chewing followed by 42.1% smoking (either cigarette, bidi, or both) and 35.1% betel nut chewing, while 20.4% had a history of alcohol consumption. Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (4) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. Residence In the present study, two-thirds of the study population had rural residence, while a third were urban residents. In a hospital based cross sectional study from Kerala, Xavier et al,32 reported males in 68.8% and females in 31.2% in their cohort of cancer patients. The present study also found that the distribution of cancers based on residence is fairly similar with almost equal proportion of patients with breast and lung cancers (~20%). A sightly higher proportion of patients with reproductive tract and brain cancers were seen among the rural patients. A population-based cancer registry study from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, found that the incidence rates of different cancers varied between rural areas.33 Co-morbidities Of the 50 (around 26%) patients that had an associated co-morbidity, hypertension was seen in 23 (46%), diabetes in 19 (38%), thyroid disorders in 5 (10%) and other like asthma, COPD, anemia in 5 (10%). In contrast, the prevalence of comorbidity was found to be 70.2% in a similar study from South India.34 The commonest comorbidity was hypertension (33.9%). Diabetes mellitus was found in 21.9% patients. The difference may be due to the geographical and ethnical variations between eastern and southern India. In a systematic review of a cohort of colon, rectum, lung and Hodgkin’s lymphoma in patients from England, the authors reported that up to two-thirds of patients within each of the four cancer patient cohorts had at least one comorbidity, and around half of the comorbid patients had multiple comorbidities.35 History of cancer in first degree relatives In the present study history of cancer in first degree-relative was present in 17.6% patients. Among them 27.3% of patients with head and neck cancer followed by 21.3% in breast cancer and 12.2% in reproductive tract cancer had a positive family history of cancer. In another study family history was found to be positive in 8.53% cancer patients.36 An estimated 5% of cancers in 2005 were found to have a hereditary component, which is reflected in a family history, especially among first-degree relatives.37 With increasing genetic screening and awareness, increasing numbers are being reported now, like the Western populations LIMITATIONS The present study has several limitations. First of all, detailed histopathological type of cancer could not be obtained which itself is an important prognostic factor and also the course of treatment depends on histopathological diagnosis. Also, information about stage or grade of cancer could not be obtained from the prescriptions which would provide a better picture of the etiology, prognosis and clinical course. No test of significance were done, so any association between sociodemographic profile and type of cancer could not be assessed. CONCLUSION This cross-sectional study provides valuable insights into the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients attending the radiotherapy outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata. The study highlights a predominance of patients from rural backgrounds, lower socioeconomic groups, and a slight female majority, with breast and head & neck cancers being the most common diagnoses. A significant proportion of patients reported a history of addiction and co-morbidities, underlining the importance of targeted preventive strategies. RECOMMENDATIONS Apart from sociodemographic characteristics like gender, rural residence and low socio economic status, most of the cancer patients had comorbidities and had history of addiction. Thus refraining from addiction like tobacco alcohol as well as prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities along with regular screening of the patients with comorbidities for development of cancer should be recommended and promoted among people as an effective preventive strategy. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank all the patients for their patience and willingness to fill in the questionnaires. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Prof. (Dr.) Pit Baran Chakraborty, Principal, NRSMCH, Prof. (Dr.) Indira Dey (Pal), MSVP, Prof. (Dr.) Dibakar Halder, HOD, Department of Community Medicine, NRSMCH, and Prof. (Dr.) Srikrishna Mandal, HOD, Department of Radio Therapy (Radiation Oncology), NRSMCH. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None Declared FUNDING Not declared Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (5) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of the study population (n=188) # Others include Christians and Sikhs @ n=60, patients with history of addiction $ Others include people who are widowed, separated or divorced Variable Levels Number Percentage Age groups (in years) ≤ 19 9 4.8 20-39 29 15.4 40-59 96 51.1 60-79 49 26.1 ≥80 5 2.6 Gender Male 90 47.9 Female 98 52.1 Religion Hinduism 141 75.0 Islam 45 23.9 Others# 2 1.1 Residence Urban 64 34.0 Rural 124 66.0 Education Illiterate 41 21.8 Primary 47 25.0 Secondary 67 35.6 HS and above 33 17.6 Occupation Student 10 5.3 Homemaker 88 46.8 Self-employed 48 25.5 Labour 14 7.4 Service 14 7.4 Retired 7 3.7 Unemployed 7 3.7 Monthly income 1000-10000 101 53.7 10001-20000 57 30.3 20001-30000 21 11.2 30001-40000 4 2.1 40001-50000 5 2.7 Socio-economic status Upper class 12 6.4 Upper middle class 29 15.4 Middle class 42 22.3 Lower middle class 51 27.1 Lower class 54 28.7 Marital status Married 166 88.3 Unmarried 18 9.6 Others$ 4 2.1 Type of family Nuclear 109 58.0 Joint 80 42.6 History of addiction Present 60 31.9 Absent 128 68.1 Associated co-morbidities Present 50 26.6 Absent 138 73.4 Family history of cancer (in 1st degree relatives) Present 35 18.6 Absent 153 81.4 Total 100 Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (6) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. Table 2: Distribution of cancers based on system and organ involved (n=188) System Organ Numbers Percentage Abdominal (n=34) Gall bladder 5 2.7 Oesophagus 1 0.5 Stomach 7 3.7 Rectum/ anal canal 7 3.7 Colon 6 3.2 Not specified 3 1.6 Liver 5 2.7 Brain tumours (n=11) 11 5.9 Breast (n=40) 40 21.3 Head and neck (n= 36) Oral cavity 17 9.0 Tonsil 1 0.5 Eye 1 0.5 Salivary gland 2 1.1 Lip 1 0.5 Neck 10 5.3 Laryngeal cancer 3 1.6 Sinonasal 1 0.5 Leukemia and lymphoma (n=4) 4 2.1 Lungs (n=16) 16 8.5 Osteosarcoma _soft tissue sarcoma (n=9) 9 4.8 Reproductive system (n=21) Ovary 6 3.2 Penis 1 0.5 Uterus including fallopian tubes 9 4.8 Cervix 4 2.1 Pelvic region 1 0.5 Urinary system (n= 17) Urinary bladder 4 2.1 Prostate 9 4.8 Kidney 3 1.6 Urinary tract 1 0.5 Total 188 100 Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (7) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. Table 3: Distribution of type of cancer based on clinical variables (n=188) Level Gastrointestinal Brain Breast Head and neck Leukaemia and lymphoma Lungs Osteo/ soft tissue sarcomas Reproductive Urinary Total Age Group ≤19 0 2 (22.2) 0 1 (11.1) 2 (22.2) 0 2 (22.2) 1 (11.1) 1 (11.1) 9 (100.0) 20-39 8 (27.6) 4 (13.8) 4 (13.8) 7 (24.1) 0 0 4 (13.8) 1 (3.4) 1 (3.4) 29 (100) 40-59 18 (18.8) 2 (2.1) 26 (27.1) 20 (20.8) 0 8 (8.3) 2 (2.1) 14 (14.6) 6 (6.3) 96 (100) 60-79 7 (14.3) 3 (6.1) 10 (20.4) 8 (16.3) 2 (4.1) 8 (16.3) 0 5 (10.2) 6 (12.2) 49 (100) >80 1 (20) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (20) 0 3 (60) 5 (100) Sex Female 17 (17.3) 7 (7.1) 38 (38.8) 11 (11.2) 1 (1.0) 1 (1.0) 2 (2.0) 20 (20.4) 1 (1.0) 98 (100.0) Male 17 (18.9) 4 (4.4) 2 (2.2) 25 (27.8) 3 (3.3) 15 (16.7) 7 (7.8) 1 (1.1) 16 (17.8) 90 (100.0) Residence Rural 24 (19.4) 10 (8.1) 27 (21.8) 21 (16.9) 3 (2.4) 11 (8.9) 3 (2.4) 15 (12.1) 10 (8.1) 124 (100.0) Urban 10 (15.6) 1 (1.6) 13 (20.3) 15 (23.4) 1 (1.6) 5 (7.8) 6 (9.4) 6 (9.4) 7 (10.9) 64 (100.0) History of addiction No 29 (22.7) 10 (7.8) 35 (27.3) 14 (10.9) 2 (1.6) 7 (5.5) 3 (2.4) 20 (15.6) 8 (6.3) 128 (100.0) Yes 5 (8.3) 1 (1.7) 5 (8.3) 22 (36.7) 2 (3.3) 9 (15.0) 6 (10) 1 (1.7) 9 (15.0) 60 (100.0) Presence of comorbidity No 26 (18.8) 11 (8) 30 (21.7) 25 (18.1) 4 (2.9) 11 (8) 9 (6.5) 12 (8.7) 10 (7.2) 138 (100) Yes 8 (16) 0 10 (20) 11 (22) 0 5 (10) 0 9 (18) 7 (14) 50 (100) History of cancer in 1O relatives No 31 (20) 10 (6.5) 33 (21.3) 27 (17.4) 2 (1.3) 14 (9.0) 7 (4.5) 17 (11) 14 (9) 155 (100) Yes 3 (9.1) 1 (3) 7 (21.2) 9 (27.3) 2 (6.1) 2 (6.1) 2 (6.1) 4 (12.1) 3 (9.1) 33 (100) Total 34 (18.1) 11 (5.9) 40 (21.3) 36 (19.1) 4 (2.1) 16 (8.5) 9 (4.8) 21 (11.2) 17 (9.0) 188 (100.0) Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (8) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. REFERENCES 1. Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Sundaram C, Harikumar KB, Tharakan ST, Lai OS, Sung B, Aggarwal BB. Cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes. Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2097-116. doi: 10.1007/s11095-008-9661-9. Epub 2008 Jul 15. Erratum in: Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2200. Kunnumakara, Ajaikumar B [corrected to Kunnumakkara, Ajaikumar B]. PMID: 18626751; PMCID: PMC2515569. 2. Khanna D, Sharma P, Budukh A, Vishwakarma R, Sharma AN, Bagal S, Tripathi V, Maurya VK, Chaturvedi P, Pradhan S. Ruralurban disparity in cancer burden and care: findings from an Indian cancer registry. BMC Cancer. 2024 Mar 6;24(1):308. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12041-y. 3. Khanna D, Sharma P, Budukh A, Vishwakarma R, Sharma AN, Bagal S, Tripathi V, Maurya VK, Chaturvedi P, Pradhan S. Ruralurban disparity in cancer burden and care: findings from an Indian cancer registry. BMC Cancer. 2024 Mar 6;24(1):308. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12041-y. 4. Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Sundaram C, Harikumar KB, Tharakan ST, Lai OS, Sung B, Aggarwal BB. Cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes. Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2097-116. doi: 10.1007/s11095-008-9661-9. Epub 2008 Jul 15. Erratum in: Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2200. Kunnumakara, Ajaikumar B [corrected to Kunnumakkara, Ajaikumar B]. PMID: 18626751; PMCID: PMC2515569. 5. Pillai RN, Alex A, MS N, Verma V, Shaji A, Pavithran K, Vijaykumar DK, John D. Economic burden of breast cancer in India, 2000–2021 and forecast to 2030. Scientific Reports. 2025 Jan 8;15 (1):1323. 6. Kulothungan V, Sathishkumar K, Leburu S, Ramamoorthy T, Stephen S, Basavarajappa D, Tomy N, Mohan R, Menon GR, Mathur P. Burden of cancers in India-estimates of cancer crude incidence, YLLs, YLDs and DALYs for 2021 and 2025 based on National Cancer Registry Program. BMC cancer. 2022 May 11;22 (1):527. 7. Khanna D, Sharma P, Budukh A, Vishwakarma R, Sharma AN, Bagal S, Tripathi V, Maurya VK, Chaturvedi P, Pradhan S. Ruralurban disparity in cancer burden and care: findings from an Indian cancer registry. BMC Cancer. 2024 Mar 6;24(1):308. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12041-y. 8. Jain A, Ganesh B, Bobdey SC, Sathwara JA, Saoba S. Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Cervical Cancer Patients Visiting in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol. 2017 Jul-Sep;38(3):291-295. doi: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_20_16. 9. Kalyankar, Rathod A, Kodgire J, Pagare SK, Patil N, Chavan S, Khadilkar H. Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Cervical Cancer Patients Visiting Government Cancer Hospital in Maharashtra.International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2023; 15(11); 1183-1188. 10. Xavier AU, Amgiasvasanth AM. Profile of cancer patients attending a tertiary care center. Int J Med Res Rev. 2020; 8 (1): 97-104. 11. Puri S, Ashat M, Pandey A, Goel NK, Singh A, Kaushal V. Sociodemographic characteristics of cancer patients: Hospital based cancer registry in a tertiary care hospital of India. Indian J Cancer 2014;51:1-4. 12. GBD 2016 Cancer Collaborators. Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study. JAMA Oncol 2018; published online June 2. DOI:10.1001/ jamaoncol.2018.2706. 13. Normen M, Sahaya FE, Kulkarni K, Vidhubala E, Shewade HD, Kathiresan J. 'Patients with Cancer are Distressed!' Indian Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Distress Screening and Referrals to Psycho-oncology Services - A Mixed Methods Study. Indian J Palliat Care. 2021 Oct-Dec;27(4):561-570. doi: 10.25259/ IJPC_142_21. 14. Gothwal RS, Sharma S, Naik PE, Agarwal S, Jain S, Singh D. Demographic Distribution of Various Cancers In Patients Attending Radiotherapy OPD At Tertiary Care Centre In North West India. International Journal of Current Advanced Research 2020; 09(12): 23517-23520. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2020. 23520.4658 15. Puri S, Ashat M, Pandey A, Goel NK, Singh A, Kaushal V. Sociodemographic characteristics of cancer patients: Hospital based cancer registry in a tertiary care hospital of India. Indian J Cancer 2014;51:1-4. 16. World Health Organisation. Childhood cancers. Cited 04/02/2025. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ cancer-in-children. 17. Kapoor G, Arora RS, Radhakrishnan V, Nath A, Malhotra P, Cyriac SL, Gangadharan VP, Sadashivudu G, Ramamoorthy T, Sudarshan KL, Mathur P. Profile of Childhood Cancers From HospitalBased Cancer Registries in India, 2012–19. Indian Pediatrics. 2024 Jan;61(1):39-44. 18. Sabahi E. Paediatric Oncology in India. World Medical Tour [Internet]. Available at https://wmedtour.com/pediatric-oncologyin-india/. Last accessed June 2025. 19. Gothwal RS, Sharma S, Naik PE, Agarwal S, Jain S, Singh D. Demographic Distribution of Various Cancers In Patients Attending Radiotherapy OPD At Tertiary Care Centre In North West India. International Journal of Current Advanced Research 2020; 09(12): 23517-23520. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2020. 23520.4658. 20. Rani B, Sinha AP, Sharma KK, Prasad BV, Srinivasan M, Biswas A. Perception of Social Support and Prevalence of Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms among Patients with Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated at a Tertiary Cancer Centre in North India. Indian J Palliat Care. 2024;30:336-41. doi: 10.25259/ IJPC_56_2023. 21. Puri S, Ashat M, Pandey A, Goel NK, Singh A, Kaushal V. Sociodemographic characteristics of cancer patients: Hospital based cancer registry in a tertiary care hospital of India. Indian J Cancer 2014;51:1-4. 22. Bangal R, Giri P, Bangal S, More M, Singh K. Socio-demographic profile and associated risk factors in cancer patients attending the Oncology OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western Maharashtra, India. Int J Med Sci Public Heal. 2014;3(12)1. 23. Xavier AU, Amgiasvasanth AM. Profile of cancer patients attending a tertiary care center. International Journal of Medical Research and Review 2020; 8 (1): 97-104. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2020.i01.15. 24. Gothwal RS, Sharma S, Naik PE, Agarwal S, Jain S, Singh D. Demographic Distribution of Various Cancers In Patients Attending Radiotherapy OPD At Tertiary Care Centre In North West India. International Journal of Current Advanced Research 2020; 09(12): 23517-23520. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2020. 23520.4658. Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department Volume 3, Issue 1 (Jul-Dec), 2025 (9) Articles in The ESRF Research Journal for Undergraduate Medical Students are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This license permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes and it cannot be changed in any way. 25. Xavier AU, Amgiasvasanth AM. Profile of cancer patients attending a tertiary care center. International Journal of Medical Research and Review 2020; 8 (1): 97-104. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2020.i01.15. 26. Bangal R, Giri P, Bangal S, More M, Singh K. Socio-demographic profile and associated risk factors in cancer patients attending the Oncology OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western Maharashtra, India. Int J Med Sci Public Heal. 2014;3(12)1. 27. Puri S, Ashat M, Pandey A, Goel NK, Singh A, Kaushal V. Sociodemographic characteristics of cancer patients: Hospital based cancer registry in a tertiary care hospital of India. Indian J Cancer 2014;51:1-4. 28. Murthy NS, Rajaram D, Gautham MS, Shivaraj NS, Nandakumar BS, Pruthvish S. Risk of cancer development in India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2011;12:387-91. 29. Hill C. Tobacco epidemiology. Rev Prat 2012;62:325, 327-9. 30. Cancela Mde C, Ramadas K, Fayette JM, Thomas G, Muwonge R, Chapuis F, et al. Alcohol intake and oral cavity cancer risk among men in a prospective study in Kerala, India. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2009; 37: 342-9. 31. Bangal R, Giri P, Bangal S, More M, Singh K. Socio-demographic profile and associated risk factors in cancer patients attending the Oncology OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western Maharashtra, India. Int J Med Sci Public Heal. 2014;3(12)1. 32. Xavier AU, Amgiasvasanth AM. Profile of cancer patients attending a tertiary care center. International Journal of Medical Research and Review 2020; 8 (1): 97-104. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2020.i01.15 33. Khanna D, Sharma P, Budukh A, Vishwakarma R, Sharma AN, Bagal S, Tripathi V, Maurya VK, Chaturvedi P, Pradhan S. Ruralurban disparity in cancer burden and care: findings from an Indian cancer registry. BMC cancer. 2024 Mar 6;24(1):308. 34. Sebastian D,Joseph J, Elezebethn M.Cancer Res Stat Treat. 2023 ; 6(4): 526–533. 35. Fowler H, Belot A, Ellis L, Maringe C, Luque-Fernandez MA, Njagi EN, Navani N, Sarfati D, Rachet B. Comorbidity prevalence among cancer patients: a population-based cohort study of four cancers. BMC cancer. 2020 Jan 28;20(1):2. 36. Pandey A, Dimri K, Suraj VP, Kaur A, Rathee N. An increasing cancer burden in tertiary care health centers of Chandigarh: the hospital based study. International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences. 2021 Feb 18;10(2):117-30. 37. Rajkumar T, Soumittra N, Vidubala E, Sridevi V, Mahajan V, Ramanan S, Vijaya S. Organization and running of the first comprehensive hereditary cancer clinic in India. Hered Cancer Clin Pract. 2005 Nov 15;3(4):165-70. doi: 10.1186/1897-4287-3-4-165. Original Article Socio-demographic profile of Cancer Patients Attending Radiotherapy Out Patient Department