Significant effect of education & income on cancer control: Policy consideration for third world

Abstract Background Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is maximally encountered in India across the globe, and the environmental influences/interactions leading to cancer particularly education and income are very different in the developed countries than the third world. Material and methods A prospective assessment of 707 histologically proven HNSCC patients was undertaken regarding the possible role of 2 determinants viz. education and income on cancer prevalence. Standard questionnaires were filled up for the outpatients in the department of otolaryngology and variables such as demographics, site of involvement, the education and family income were analyzed accordingly. Observations The cancer was seen more among those with the education status of less than grade V (58%), than between VI and VIII grade (21%) or between IX and XII grade (8.5%) and higher. Of those with the education category of less that grade V, oral cavity was the most common site involved (29%). The cancer rates among income category of less than Rs. 1000/- (46%) was significantly more than those of Rs. 1001–2000 (29%) and Rs. 2001–4000 (10%). Thereafter there was a drastic fall in the cancer rates among the further higher income categories. Conclusions Two points have emerged from this study; that is likely to have the highest impact on cancer control: (1) implementing compulsory education till class VI and (2) Enhancing family income to Rs. 4000/INR per month. These are likely to have a complicated interaction with various procarcinogenic practices and environment and their correction is very likely to reduce the cancer occurrence through prevention.