Cancer cells destroyed in just 3 days with new technique

Cancer has emerged as one of the leading public health challenges in India, with a rising disease burden and mortality.

ICMR–NCDIR data (2024): 15.6 lakh new cases and 8.74 lakh deaths.

Lifetime risk: 11% for Indians, highlighting an urgent need for prevention, awareness, and treatment infrastructure.

Key Findings from Cancer Registries

Gender Differences:

  • Women: 51.1% of cases but only 45% of deaths (due to early detection of breast & cervical cancer).
  • Men: Higher mortality as lung and gastric cancers dominate, often detected late with poor survival rates.

Rising Oral Cancer in Men:

  • Oral cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most common cancer among men.
  • Reasons: long latency of tobacco effects, alcohol use, and combined tobacco–alcohol risks, despite declining tobacco prevalence.

Regional Disparities:

  • Northeast most affected, especially Mizoram (21.1% men, 18.9% women lifetime risk).
  • Causes: high tobacco use, unique food habits, infections (HPV, Helicobacter pylori).

Most Common Cancers:

  • Women: Breast & cervical.
  • Men: Oral, lung, gastric.
  • Prostate cancer is emerging in ageing urban populations.

Significance of Findings

Need for region-specific policies, beyond generic national schemes.

Early detection, awareness, and lifestyle-based prevention are crucial.

Integration of cancer services into existing health schemes is essential.

India’s Multi-Pronged Strategy Against Cancer

National-Level Programmes:

  • NPCDCS: Focuses on early detection (oral, breast, cervical).
  • Strengthening Tertiary Care Scheme: Supports 19 State Institutes & 20 Centres.
  • Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): Free cancer treatment for poor; 90% of registered patients covered.
  • Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund: Up to ₹15 lakh per patient.
  • National Cancer Grid: 287 centres with standardized protocols, treating 7.5 lakh new patients annually.

Budget & Infrastructure:

  • Union Budget 2025–26: ₹1 lakh crore for healthcare, district-level day-care cancer centres.
  • Customs duty exemptions on 36 life-saving cancer drugs.

Research & Innovation:

  • NexCAR19 (2024): India’s first indigenous CAR-T therapy for blood cancers.
  • Quad Cancer Moonshot (2024): Cervical cancer elimination drive (HPV vaccination & screening).
  • ACTREC Expansion (2025): Strengthening cancer research & training.

Awareness & Lifestyle Interventions:

  • Campaigns: Eat Right India, Fit India Movement, Yoga-based initiatives.
  • National & global cancer awareness days used for public outreach.

Challenges in Tackling Cancer

Low registry coverage: Only 18% of population.

Late detection: Poor awareness and limited screening.

Healthcare inequality: Rural & Northeastern India underserved.

Socio-cultural barriers: Stigma, taboos, low literacy.

High financial burden: Diagnostics and medicines costly despite insurance schemes.

Way Forward

Expand Cancer Registries nationwide with digital health integration.

Strengthen Primary Healthcare with built-in cancer screening.

Universal HPV Vaccination for adolescent girls.

Targeted Awareness Campaigns on tobacco, alcohol, diet, and infections.

Affordable Treatment Expansion: More cancer centres, cheaper diagnostics.

Boost Research in low-cost diagnostics and personalized therapy.

Conclusion

India faces a dual challenge: increasing cancer burden and sharp regional disparities.

Policy responses are strong—NPCDCS, PM-JAY, NCG, CAR-T therapies, and vaccination drives.

With 30–50% of cancers preventable, focus must be on prevention, early detection, and equitable access.

Sustained efforts can transform cancer from a deadly health crisis into a manageable public health challenge.