A study by National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research on Cancer shows that 11,57,294 lakh new cases are registered in India every year and 7,84,821 people died of it in 2018.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, breast, cervical, oral, lung and colorectal cancers contribute to a greater proportion of incidences, accounting for 47 per cent of all cancer cases.
The situation in AP is also similar to the country’s average rate.
According to a report at present, AP tops in a few cancers, like oral (head and neck), and its related cancers in Odisha.
The findings of its report titled ‘The Big C’ serve as a warning call to all – not just in terms of early detection, and survival, but also affordability. Edelweiss Tokio Life surveyed 100 oncologists across India and 96 per cent of doctors believe incidence of cancer will rise by 23 per cent in the next five years. Of the top 5 cancer types, breast, cervical and ovarian cancers will affect women.
According to the statistics of MNJ Institute of Oncology, the State Cancer Centre, Hyderabad, director
N. Jayalatha: “There is a gradual increase in the number of cases of cancer when compared to the last 3 years in occurrence and a majority of them are head and neck cases, breast and cervix cancers. Oral cancer is also significantly rising.” She said that they had noticed breast cancer in a large number in young women aged 25 years and above.
Dr Jayalatha also explained the causes of the rise, like late marriages, late pregnancy, early puberty and late menopause which causes a decrease of
sexual-immunity levels, proportionately increasing chances of incidence of cancer. She suggested taking cervical cancer vaccine before marriage.
The age-standardised rate of cervical cancer, on the other hand, has decreased substantially by 39.7 per cent in India as well as in AP from 1990 to 2016.
At present, doctors say survival rate for most cancers stagnates at 20 per cent to 30 per cent because a majority of the patients come to them when the disease is already in the advanced stages, either III or IV.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, oncologist at Ramesh Hospitals Vijayawada, Dr. Ram Kandula, said there are no updated reports on cancer in AP after 2012 but the rise of oral cancer is increasing every day, particularly in males due to the rise in use of tobacco and chewing of tobacco products.
The mortality rate has also increased in men due to cancer.
He said that the awareness has been increasing among the public and this may also be one of the reasons for the rise in cancer data.