The history of cancer care of Kerala spread back to colonial era, where the first hospitals with cancer care facilities were started and run by the London Missionary Society. Later, many government hospitals started cancer care and establishment of the Regional Cancer Centre in 1981 elevated the status of Kerala in the cancer care map of India. The history of modern cancer care in Kerala dates back to the nineteenth century. In Travancore, where the capital of Kerala was later located, modern medicine was first made available in 1811 to the royal family followed by their officials, prisoners and the general public respectively.
Keywords: Cancer care; History; Kerala.
© Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2022.