A recent study has revealed a concerning trend in India: more women are dying from cancer compared to men. This study, conducted over the last 19 years, has shed light on the increasing cancer mortality rates among women in the country, a trend that demands immediate attention and action.
A Deep Dive into the Study
The study, a collaborative effort between Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a division of the World Health Organization), is the first national-level cancer mortality study in India. It analyzed mortality trends of 23 major cancers that claimed the lives of 12.85 million Indians between 2000 and 2019.
The findings are alarming. While the cancer mortality trend among men has dipped by 0.19% annually, it has increased by 0.25% among women. This indicates an overall increase of 0.02% among both sexes. The highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes at 2.7% (2.1% among men and 3.7% in women).
The Most Lethal Cancers
The study identified the most lethal cancers in India. Among them, mouth and oropharyngeal cancers topped the list, accounting for 15.6% of deaths, followed by stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers.
Interestingly, female cancers of the cervix, corpus uteri, ovary, and breast contributed to 17.6% of deaths, while male cancers of the prostate and testis contributed to only 3.7%.
The Need for Better Cancer Control Programs
The study underscores the urgent need for better cancer control programs in India. As Ajil Shaji, Head of Cancer Registry at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and one of the authors of the study, pointed out, this estimation-based study could be a substitute for constructing precise and efficient healthcare infrastructure to acquire better cancer control programs in India in the absence of a national cancer registry or countrywide cancer mortality data.
A Multi-Pronged Approach to Tackle Rising Cancer Mortality Rates
The rising cancer mortality rates in India call for a multi-faceted approach. This includes raising awareness about cancer symptoms, implementing cancer prevention policies, improving health infrastructure, and dedicating more human resources to the cause.
Dr. Pavithran K, Head of Dept. Medical Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle India’s rising cancer mortality rates. He suggested that the best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness of cancer symptoms among the population and cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated resources.
FAQs
Q: What is the trend in cancer mortality in India?
A: The study found that while the cancer mortality trend among men has dipped by 0.19% annually, it has increased by 0.25% among women.
Q: Which cancers are the most lethal in India?
A: The most lethal cancers in India are mouth and oropharyngeal cancers, stomach cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Q: What is the suggested approach to tackle the rising cancer mortality rates in India?
A: The study suggests a multi-pronged approach that includes raising awareness about cancer symptoms, implementing cancer prevention policies, improving health infrastructure, and dedicating more human resources to the cause.
Q: Which cancers showed an increase in mortality in India?
A: The cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, ovary, and mesothelioma showed substantial increases in mortality in India.
Q: Which cancers showed a decrease in mortality over time in India?
A: The cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, liver, brain, testis, prostate, cervix, corpus uteri, and melanoma decreased over time in India.
