Cancer Cases in India to Rise by 2% Annually, 3 in 5 Patients Die After Diagnosis: ICMR Study
New Delhi: India is facing a growing cancer epidemic, with 70% of all cancer cases and deaths occurring in middle-aged and elderly individuals, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia.
Conducted by researchers Khushwant Singh, Ashoo Grover, and Kavitha Dhanasekaran from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the study analysed data from GLOBOCAN 2022 and the Global Health Observatory (GHO) to examine cancer trends across age groups and genders.
The findings show that older adults (aged 70+) have the highest risk, with 10.3% likely to develop cancer and 7.7% at risk of dying from it, while middle-aged individuals (50-69 years) have an 8.3% risk of developing cancer and a 5.5% chance of dying.
The researchers emphasize that the cancer burden is rapidly increasing in India, with cases projected to rise by 2% annually over the next two decades as the population ages.
By 2050, India is expected to record 2.7 million new cancer cases annually, up from 1.5 million in 2022, while cancer deaths could surge from 0.99 million to 1.83 million per year.
The study also highlights the high mortality rate among cancer patients, revealing that three in five people diagnosed with cancer in India are likely to succumb to the disease.
The five most common cancers—breast, oral, cervical, respiratory, and esophageal cancers—together account for 44% of the total cancer burden. However, women face a disproportionate impact, with breast cancer contributing 13.8% of all new cases, followed by cervical cancer at 9.2%.
Using GLOBOCAN 2022 data, the researchers warn that the country is heading toward its highest cancer burden ever, putting immense pressure on healthcare systems. “As India ages, we are witnessing the highest cancer burden of all time, which is expected to rise further in the coming decades,” the authors stated.
The study calls for urgent nationwide interventions, including early detection programs, increased access to specialized cancer care, and large-scale public health awareness campaigns.
The researchers stress that without immediate action, India’s cancer crisis will worsen, pushing the healthcare system to its limits. With mortality rates rising and future projections looking grim, experts warn that proactive action is the only way to prevent India from facing an all-time high cancer catastrophe.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.