A new analysis by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), paints a grim picture of India’s cancer challenge. The country is expected to record 1.56 million new cases and 874,404 deaths from cancer in 2024 alone. If current trends persist, the total number of cases could rise to 2.46 million by 2045.
The study, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Across 43 Cancer Registries in India, underscores that cancer is no longer uncommon and is rapidly reshaping the nation’s health landscape.
Which cancers dominate in India?
The findings reveal clear gender-based patterns:
- Among men: Oral, lung, and prostate cancers are leading threats. Oral cancer is estimated to contribute over 113,000 new cases in 2024.
- Among women: Breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers are the most prevalent. With more than 238,000 new cases projected this year, breast cancer tops the list for Indian women.
The overall lifetime risk of developing cancer in India is pegged at 11%, but certain regions face much higher odds. Mizoram reports lifetime risks as high as 21.1% in men and 18.9% in women. Another concern flagged by the study is the rising incidence of cancer in younger age groups. Diseases like breast cancer, once associated with older women, are increasingly being detected in patients in their 30s and 40s.
Lifestyle and environmental drivers
The surge is closely tied to lifestyle changes.
- Tobacco chewing, smoking, and alcohol remain the biggest contributors to oral cancers.
- Dietary shifts, rising stress, and sedentary living are fuelling breast cancers among younger women.
Geographically, Delhi records some of the country’s highest cancer rates in men, while Aizawl and Srinagar lead in site-specific cancers.
Government response
To address this growing crisis, India is stepping up cancer care and prevention through several measures:
- Screening programmes encouraging regular health checks for people above 30.
- Financial protection under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY, which covers treatment costs up to ₹5 lakh per family.
- Cheaper medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT outlets.
- Expanded infrastructure, including a plan to set up 200 district-level cancer day-care centres by 2026.
While treatment capacity is improving, experts stress that prevention and early detection must remain at the forefront of India’s cancer control strategy.
Doctors emphasise that lifestyle choices remain the most effective defence against cancer. Key steps include:
- Quitting tobacco and smoking, the top preventable risk.
- Incorporating daily physical activity, even short walks or stair climbing.
- Opting for a healthier diet with fewer processed foods and more fruits and vegetables.
- Regular screening breast and cervical checks for women, and oral and lung screening for men.
Health specialists note that millions of cancer cases worldwide could be prevented if people address major risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity, infections, and pollution.