title: Population-based cancer incidence in Sikkim, India: report on ethnic variation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) was set up in Sikkim (a state in the North Eastern India) in 2003. We examined incidence rates by ethnic groups from 2003-2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-adjusted incidence rates (AARs) per 100,000 person-years were calculated by direct method using the world standard population, and analysed by ethnic group (Bhutia, Rai and other).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 1148 male and 1063 female cases of cancer between 2003 and 2008 on the Sikkim PBCR. The overall AARs were 89.4 and 99.4 per 100,000 person-years in males and females, respectively. Incidence rates were highest amongst the Bhutia group (AAR=172.4 and 147.4 per 100,000 person-years in males and females, respectively), and the largest difference in rates were observed for stomach cancers with AARs being 12.6 and 4.7 times higher in the Bhutia group compared with other ethnic groups in males and females, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations call for further epidemiological investigations and the introduction of screening programmes.
authors.affiliation: Population Based Cancer Registry, Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India. yogeshverma58@gmail.com
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gurung
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sapkota
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sundas
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Bhattarai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nadayil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramnath
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nandakumar
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012819:Sikkim / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate