Demographic, Clinicopathological Profile, and Treatment Outcomes of Cancer Cervix Patients-A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis from a Single Radiotherapy Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre in Jharkhand, Eastern India

Context Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer and death in women in India. Most cases present in late stages and are non-compliant to treatment and follow-up. Objective To assess the demography, clinicopathological profile and treatment and follow-up parameters of cancer cervix patients attending a single unit in radiation oncology outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care centre in Jharkhand, Eastern India. Materials and Methods A four-year retrospective analysis of cancer cervix cases registered between May 2017 and April 2021 was performed. Medical records of 323 patients were subject to analysis. Results The mean age of presentation was 52 years. Most women lacked formal education (60%), had high parity (4/ > children, 66%), and had a mean low age of first childbirth (19 years). Histopathological diagnosis revealed 90% as squamous cell carcinomas, with the predominance of keratinising type and grade II tumours-about 80% of women presented with advanced-stage disease (stage IIB and higher). The proportion of women who defaulted post-registration was 22%. The majority (78%) were planned for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Another 22% defaulted post-planning of treatment. About 56% of women undertook treatment and 48% completed it as per protocol. At the first follow-up, post-treatment completion of 3 months, 43% women attended the OPD, but the numbers kept dwindling and less than 5% women turned up at the 4th year FU. Considering last point of contact, 48% women were disease free while 14% had died at the time of evaluation. Most women reported grade 1 and 2 acute and chronic bladder and rectal toxicities. Conclusion Cervical cancers are one of the leading cancers in women in India other than the breast. Region-specific demographic and clinicopathological data will assist us in formulating precise cancer control and screening programmes tailored for a particular region. Awareness campaigns, uniform healthcare facilities across the country, and mass vaccination drives will help us to achieve the goal of cervical cancer elimination.