A comprehensive-retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently released its findings on the cancer incidence rates in India based on the 2022 report by the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN). 

Following are the salient findings -

• India lies third in the Southeast Asian region in terms of cancer incidence and third in absolute numbers incidence globally after the USA and China with the numbers to increase in the coming years as India undergoes a demographic shift with an increase in the middle-aged and geriatric population.

• The middle-aged and geriatric age groups account for the highest burden of cancer incidence and mortality with the minimum being in children and reproductive age cohorts.

• Meanwhile, cancer-related mortalities are expected to rise quicker in women than in men (1.2%-4.4% vs 1.2%-2.4% annual per cent change)

• The highest burden among women was caused by breast cancer (13.8%), followed by oral (10.3%) and cervical cancer (9.2%). Meanwhile, among men, oral cancer (13%) had the highest burden, followed by respiratory (11.6%) and esophageal cancer (6.7%).

In light of these findings, the authors advise building a strong framework to support screening, diagnosis and treatment of this rising burden of cancers in the coming years that threatens to overwhelm the healthcare sector.