Syllabus:

GS2: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: 

An analysis of data from 43 cancer registries revealed that the lifetime risk of developing cancer in India stood at 11%, with an estimated 15.6 lakh cancer cases and 8.74 lakh cancer deaths occurring in 2024.

More on the News

• India’s current 43 registries cover just 10% to 18% of the population from 23 states and Union Territories, with newer registries in regions such as Kashmir, Prayagraj and Thiruvananthapuram.

• These cancer registries collect data on new cancer cases, deaths and trends in specific geographical areas. 

• Using registries’ data from 2015-19, researchers have identified key trends on the incidence of cancer with significant policy implications.

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 30% to 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. 

Key Trends

• Gender-wise Incidence: 

• Women accounted for a higher proportion of the total cancer cases (51.1%) recorded in the registries but a lower proportion of deaths (45%).
• One of the reasons is that Breast and cervical cancers, which together account for 40% of cases in women, are easier to detect early and have better outcomes, while commonly occurring cancers in men, such as lung and gastric cancers, are more difficult to treat. 

• Increasing Incidence of Oral Cancer:

• There has been an increase in the incidence of oral cancer in the country. Oral Cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer among men in India.
• This rise comes despite a decline in tobacco use, with adult consumption dropping from 34.6% (2009-10) to 28.6% (2016-17), as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. 
• Cancer studies show it can take 20+ years to develop after exposure to carcinogens like tobacco. This delay may explain rising oral cancer rates despite lower tobacco use. 

• Regional Variations: 

• The incidence of cancers was the highest in the Northeast, with the highest occurrence of cervical cancer, lung cancer in women, and oral cancer in women all reported from states in this region.
• The highest cancer incidence across the 43 registries was reported from Aizawl in males (198.4 per 100,000) and females (172.5 per 100,000). 
• The prevalence of infections such as Helicobacter Pylori, hepatitis, Salmonella typhi, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), etc., which may act as carcinogens in several cancers, is also high in the Northeast region. 
• The highest incidence of breast cancer was in Hyderabad (54 per 100,000 population), while that of cervical cancer was in Aizawl (27.1). 
• The highest occurrence of lung cancer in men was in Srinagar (39.5) and among women in Aizawl (33.7).
• The highest incidence of oral cancer in men was in Ahmedabad (33.6) and among women in East Khasi hills (13.6). 
• Srinagar (12.7) recorded the highest incidence of prostate cancer.

Significance of the Findings

• Planning of Cancer Care Programs: This data can help the Centre and states effectively plan their cancer care programs, from screening programs in primary health centres and specially organised camps to treatment of cancer in tertiary centres. 
• Identifying Geographic Patterns: Cancer maps visualize the incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in different locations, allowing for the identification of geographic hotspots and areas with unusual patterns. 
• Health Disparities: The findings highlight disparities in access to cancer screening, timely diagnosis, and treatment quality, often shaped by geography, socio-economic status, and healthcare infrastructure. 

Cancer Care Programmes in India 

• Ayushman Bharat programme: Ayushman Bharat is a key health scheme offering cashless health insurance of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, including cancer treatment.
• National Cancer Grid: The National Cancer Grid (NCG) unites cancer centres across India to ensure uniform, high-quality care, standardized guidelines, skilled workforce development, and collaborative research.
• The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): Launched in 2010, it aims to prevent and control these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through awareness generation, lifestyle changes, and early diagnosis. 

Sources

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-health/what-indias-cancer-map-shows-10224975/ https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/higher-rate-cance-women-oral-cance-men-cancer-registry-maps-incidence-10225228/