World Health Day: Cancer In India On A Steep Rise, Comprehensive Healthcare Is A Necessity

According to a 2022 study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the estimated number of incident cases of cancer in India for the year 2022 were found to be 14,61,427 with one in nine people likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. The study published by lead authors Krishnan Sathishkumar and Meesha Chaturvedi among others further predicts that the incidence of cancer in India is estimated to increase by 12.8 per cent in 2025 as compared to 2020, from 14.6 lakh in 2022 to 15.7 lakhs in 2025. 

As per WHO’s 2020 Globocan data, India ranked third after China and the USA in contributing the most number of incident cases globally. The data predicted that cancer cases in India would increase to 20.08 lakh, attributing a rise of 57.5 per cent in 2040 from 2020.

According to the WHO’s data, among all the cancer types in both men and women in 2020, breast cancer lead the charts contributing to 13.5 per cent of all incident cancer cases in India closely followed by lip and oral cavity cancer with 10.3 per cent cases and cervical cancers with 9.4 per cent of all incident cases. 

In India cancers in men are topped by the lip and oral cavity cancers with 16.2 per cent followed by lung cancers with 8 per cent and stomach cancers with 6 per cent of all incident cases. Whereas in women breast cancer accounts for one fourth of all incident cases translating to 26.3 per cent followed by cervical cancer with 18.3 per cent and ovary cancer with 6.7 per cent of all incident cases. 

“The most common cancers affecting the Indian population are breast, oral, cervical, gastric, colorectal and lung malignancies. With India accounting for 8.5 lakh cancer-related deaths in 2020, awareness of cancer becomes all the more important. When our bodies show abnormal signs, we should never take that lightly,” says Dr Sunita Kapoor, Director, and Consultant Pathologist at City X-Ray & Scan Clinic.

While all the data at hand suggests that the cancer cases in India are on a steep rise and are quite diverse among genders, what the country needs is ‘access to comprehensive quality healthcare’ says Dr Lohith G Reddy, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, HCG Hospital, Bengaluru. 

Dr Reddy delineates “As we celebrate World Health Day and its theme of 'health for all,' it reminds us of the urgent need to ensure that every patient in the country has access to comprehensive quality healthcare. Cancer treatment is evolving in India, mainly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Hence, the scalability of technology in cancer care becomes essential for providing continuous care while keeping the highest standards across all geographies.

He adds that in cancer care, enhancing primary prevention through effective screening and early diagnosis would be a practical approach. “Screening has been shown to boost overall survival by spotting cancer in its early stages and placing it under the proper form of treatment. Patient-centric, precision approaches with cutting-edge technologies like Radiation therapy, Artificial Intelligence, etc. need to be given strong emphasis and in turn with the implementation of value-based healthcare and hence the goal of achieving ‘Health for all’,” Dr Reddy enumerates.

Speaking on the treatment of cancer Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder & Director Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals says that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and frightening, but it does not have to define the rest of one’s life. “With proper treatment, support, and a positive outlook, many cancer patients are able to overcome this disease and lead fulfilling lives. World Health Day is a time to raise awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, and to support those who are currently battling this disease,” he adds.

Explaining the importance of prevention Dr Kapoor says prevention of cancer is only possible if one is fully aware of the disease and knows what steps to take if a need arises. And this she says is possible by identifying risk factors and applying evidence-based prevention strategies. 

“People of all ages, including children, can develop cancer. As the responsibility of educating kids lies in the hands of their caretakers, parents and teachers should educate and encourage children to attend educational workshops on cancer awareness. 

She believes organizing camps in rural areas is a great way to reach out to people who do not have access to healthcare resources. “People should know that smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, exposure to carcinogens such as specific chemicals and harmful radiation including UV rays from sunlight, obesity, and family history are leading risk factors for different types of cancer,” Dr Kapoor illusterates. 

This she adds is particularly important for people whose family members have a history of malignancy. “The absence of awareness could lead to a poor response to screening procedures and a delayed diagnosis. Undergoing regular screenings and tests as suggested by your doctor should be made a practice by everyone, irrespective of family history of cancer,” Dr Kapoor explains.