C FOR CHALLENGE, Pg10.

Key Highlights:

• Cancer cases in India rose from 84.8 per 1,00,000 people in 1990 to 107.2 per 1,00,000 in 2023, with nearly 1.5 million annual diagnoses.
• Cancer mortality increased from 71.7 per 1,00,000 in 1990 to 86.9 per 1,00,000 in 2023, resulting in approximately 12.1 lakh deaths yearly.
• Approximately 70% of cancers in India are linked to preventable risk factors like tobacco consumption, air pollution, and infections.
• Punjab recently launched AI-enabled screening devices for early detection of breast and cervical cancers.

Detailed Insights:

• India's cancer burden is increasing, leading to late diagnoses and unequal access to care, despite incidence and mortality rates being lower than the global average.
• Preventable risk factors are influenced by personal choices and systemic issues such as weak regulation, inadequate health infrastructure, and low public awareness.
• Preventive measures, including investments in cleaner resources, vaccinations, and public awareness, should form the core of India's cancer policy.
• Some states are using technology like mobile vans and tele-oncology to improve access, while Karnataka has seen a sixfold increase in oncology procedures under the AB-ArK scheme.
• The rollout of NEXCAR19, India’s first approved CAR-T therapy, is promising but expensive, and screening programs need better integration with treatment pathways.
• Strengthening India’s cancer registry infrastructure and creating a national cancer map are crucial for understanding cancer hotspots and allocating resources effectively.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Tele-oncology: Delivery of cancer care services remotely using technology.
• CAR-T therapy: A type of immunotherapy that uses engineered T cells to fight cancer.
• Cancer registry: A system for collecting, storing, and managing data on cancer cases.