Three in Five Cancer Patients in India Die After Diagnosis, Study Warns of Rising Cases
Three in Five Cancer Patients in India Die After Diagnosis, Study Warns of Rising Cases
New Delhi: A recent study has revealed concerning cancer trends in India, showing that three in every five patients succumb to the disease after diagnosis. The analysis, published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia, highlights that women bear a disproportionate burden compared to men.
India Ranks Third in Global Cancer Incidence
The study, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), found that India ranks third in cancer incidence globally, after China and the United States. Additionally, India accounts for over 10 percent of the world’s cancer-related deaths, ranking second after China.
Key Findings: Rising Cancer Cases and High Mortality
Researchers analyzed 20 years of data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 and the Global Health Observatory (GHO). Their projections indicate a 2 percent annual increase in cancer cases over the next two decades, driven primarily by an aging population.
Major Cancer Types in India
The study revealed that five major cancers account for 44 percent of the country’s total cancer cases:
- Breast cancer is the most common, contributing 13.8 percent of new cases.
- Cervical cancer is the third-most prevalent, making up 9.2 percent of new cases.
- Among men, oral cancer is the most widespread, followed by respiratory and esophagus cancers.
Women Face Higher Cancer Burden
Women suffer more from cancer, with breast cancer accounting for nearly 30 percent of new cases and 24 percent of related deaths. Cervical cancer contributes to 19 percent of cases and 20 percent of deaths among women.
Elderly at Highest Risk
The study highlights that the elderly, aged 70 and above, face the highest cancer burden, while those aged 15 to 49 years have the second-highest incidence, accounting for one-fifth of cancer deaths.
With 70 percent of cases and deaths occurring in middle- and older-age groups, researchers stress the urgent need for targeted interventions to address India’s growing cancer crisis.
