One in ten Indians faces risk of cancer before 75: Here is what WHO data reveals, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Nearly one in ten Indians faces the risk of developing cancer before the age of 75, according to GLOBOCAN estimates.
• India recorded 1.41 million new cancer cases and 9,16,827 deaths in 2022, with projections indicating annual new cases could reach 2.8 million by 2050.
• India and China collectively account for over half of the global cancer burden, positioning Asia as a major epicentre of the disease.
• Breast cancer emerged as India's most common cancer in 2022, followed by lip and oral cavity cancer.
• The rising cancer burden is primarily driven by population growth, ageing demographics, and evolving lifestyles.

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Detailed Insights:

• Lifestyle changes associated with rapid urbanisation, such as rising obesity, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and air pollution, are significant contributors to increasing cancer rates.
• Smoking and smokeless tobacco products remain major causes of lung and oral cancers, respectively, in India.
• Disparities in access to healthcare between metropolitan centres and rural districts often lead to delayed cancer diagnoses.
• Cervical cancer, the second leading cancer among women in India, is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening.
• The WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026 underscores the urgent need for stronger prevention and early detection strategies.
• Experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) emphasize prevention as crucial given the substantial proportion of the country's disease burden from common cancers.

Key Concepts Involved:

• GLOBOCAN: An online database by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) providing global cancer statistics and estimates of incidence and mortality.
• WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026: A comprehensive report by the World Health Organization assessing global progress in cancer prevention, control, and care.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): The specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization that conducts and coordinates cancer research globally.
• HPV Vaccination: Immunization against Human Papillomavirus, a key preventive measure against cervical and other cancers.