More women than men are being diagnosed with cancer in India with the country’s two populous states, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, likely to record the disturbing number of people affected by the disease, according to the latest report of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The central medical research body further flagged that the disease will strike 1.57 million in 2025 from 1.46 million this year. The bi-annual report published also stated that the national average of cancer cases for 2022 is 100.4 per 100,000, with a large number of women (105.4 per 100,000) being diagnosed with breast cancer, a preventable disease. By comparison, 95.6 men per 100,000 have been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The study was carried out at the ICMR’s National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Bengaluru. The scientist analysed National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) data for 2020-2022 to evaluate the burden of cancer in India in 2025. The report said that one in nine Indians is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime, by the time they hit their 74th year. According to the report, around 763,575 more males are likely to suffer from cancer in 2025, compared to 601,737 in 2015. Among women the number will increase to 806,218 in 2025 from 627,202 in 2015. The report said ICMR data used for the analysis covered around 10 per cent of the population. However, the analysis does not cover populous Uttar Pradesh and Bihar because of unavailability of data, said scientists.
The top cancers in women were breast cancer, which had the highest incidence, followed by cervix, ovary and corpus uteri. Among men, cancers of the lung, mouth and tongue were common—all associated with smoking and other tobacco use.
The report did not give figures for the incidence of breast, cervix, ovary and uterine cancers in India but Dr Abhishek Shankar, associate professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna said, “As per modelling data, the projection is that breast cancer cases will reach 250,000 by 2030. Currently, there are approximately 182,000 cases of breast cancer in India."
“The new estimates are helpful for cancer prevention and control activities through the intervention of early detection, risk reduction and management in India. Appropriate research is, however, needed to delve deeper into the reasons of cancer burden and provide affordable solutions," said the report.