DISABILITY BURDEN AND ECONOMIC LOSS OF CANCER PATIENTS

2007 (one year) to estimate disability burden and economic loss incurred by cancer patients. The study was carried out among 224 cancer patients who attended the National Institute Cancer Research & Hospital (NIRCH). Data was collected by face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire and systematic random sampling technique. Disability burden of cancer was measured in terms of years of life lived (YLD) and economic loss was estimated by health care expenditure incurred by the cancer patients. Out of all, major part (59.82%) was male while 40.18 % was female and most of them were in middle age group (40-49 years) with mean age of 49.18 (SD±14.66) years. Most of the patients (93%) were Muslims and majority (83%) was married. Maximum number of patients (38.39%) had primary level education with a large illiterate segment (27.68%). By occupation, maximum patients were housewives (28.73%) followed by agriculturers (25.50%). The average family size was 4.6 (SD±2.53) and majority (39.28%) was in poor income group (<Tk.5000). According to primary site, common cancers included cancer of lung (25%) & cervix (16.96%) followed by cancer of breast (13.39%), lymph node & lymphatic (6.70%), larynx (5.36%), oral cavity (5.36%), oesophagus (4.46%), leukemia (4.46%), bone & cartilage (4.02%), stomach (2.68%), skin (2.68%), prostate (1.79%), liver (0.89%), endocrin