Not just cardiovascular diseases or respiratory ailments but even cancer cases are rising in the country at an alarming rate.
The rising prevalence of cancer is attributed to a variety of factors, including an aging population and lifestyle changes such as unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. In addition, tobacco use remains widespread in India and has been linked to several types of cancer, including lung and mouth cancer. Poor access to healthcare services, coupled with delayed diagnosis and treatment, further exacerbates the problem. It is the need of the hour to educate people regarding cancer so that they can seek timely intervention.
Cancer has been neglected all these years and during the pandemic too. One in nine Indians is likely to have cancer in a lifetime as the disease may jump by 12.8 percent from 2020 to 2025, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Among childhood (0-14 years) cancers, lymphoid leukaemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow) was the leading cancer among both boys and girls. The brain's nervous system follows this. The projected leading cancer cases of the lung and breast would be 81,219 and 2,32,832 among males and females, respectively, for the year 2025. It is essential to create awareness regarding cancer and improve the quality of life of people.
“Certain factors such as old age, family history, genetics, obesity, tobacco consumption, alcohol, viral infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), chemicals, pollution, UV rays from the sun, poor diet, absence of physical activity, certain hormones and bacteria can lead to cancer. It will be imperative for people to stay in touch with the doctor, report abnormal symptoms in the body and seek timely intervention without any hesitation or delay,” said Dr Suhas Aagre, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist, Mumbai.
Dr Tanveer Abdul Majeed, a Surgical Oncologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur said, “Cancer cases are rising at an alarming pace in India. Cancer is affecting not only the older population or adults but even youngsters at an earlier age. Early detection is the key and motto for successful treatment and outcome of all cancers. Delay in detection and treatment can lead to poor prognosis by increasing mortality and outcomes of cancer thereby seriously affecting the health indices. The most common cancers in India in men are head and neck followed by lung and prostatic cancer, whereas in women breast and cervical cancers. The male to female ratio being 1.5 : 1 as many cancers are alarmingly increasing in women also for reasons very well documented. There has been a marginal increase in incidence of cancers since last year, however a dramatic increase in incidence is not yet documented. The most common Cancers seen in my practice are lung Esophageal and colorectal cancers in both sexes followed by breast cancers in women. Awareness, Health education, Screening, Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are keys for a successful outcome of cancer treatment.”
“To keep cancer at bay, quit tobacco and alcohol, eat a well-balanced diet, exercise daily, maintain an optimum weight, protect yourself from UV rays of the sun, get vaccinated for hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), practice safe sex, avoid second-hand smoke, don’t share needles, go for regular screening, minimize exposure to pollution. If one has a family history of cancer, then get the screening or tests done at an early age,” concluded Dr Aagre.