Why are cancer cases increasing in India? Preventive measures, lifestyle choices that experts recommend

The word cancer is common, but living with the disease is challenging and discouraging. India is seeing the number of cases rise every year, with the latest research by a renowned hospital pointing to the overall declining health of Indians.

The Apollo Hospitals report shows that 14 lakh people in India had cancer in 2020, and this number is expected to rise by 15.7 lakh by 2025.

“The number of cancer cases and deaths is increasing and is expected to rise further over the next two decades,” K Srinath Reddy, former president of the Public Health Foundation of India, told Deutsche Welle – a German news agency.

What are the most common types of cancer?

Cancer is a disease in which some body cells begin to grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It can start anywhere and can disrupt the orderly process of cell division.

Breast, cervical and ovarian cancers are most common in women, while lung, oral and prostate cancers are common in men.

Breast, oral and cervical cancers accounted for 32% of new cases in India according to new Global Cancer Observatory estimates for 2022. The number of cancer cases in women was marginally higher than that in men, at 7,22,138, of which 6,91,178. Gentlemen.

Breast cancer was the leading form of cancer among women with as many as 1,92,020 new cases (26.6%), followed by 1,27,526 cases of cervical cancer (17.7%). The third most common cancer in women was ovarian cancer (6.6%) in 2022.

In men, oral cancer was the most common with 1,07,812 new cases (15.6%), followed by lung cancer (58,970 new cases – 8.5%) and esophageal cancer (45608-6.6%). Breast cancer was the leading cause of death (98,337 – 13.7%), followed by oral cancer (79,979 – 5.6%) and cervical cancer (79,906 – 11.2%) in the country in 2022.

What are the reasons for a high incidence?

Doctors and experts have highlighted that unhealthy lifestyle is the most common cause of cancer cases in the country.

For breast cancer, late marriage and childbirth, limited breastfeeding practices and other lifestyle choices are contributing factors. Genetic predisposition also plays a role, with BRCA gene mutations being more common in certain sections of the Indian population, said Dr Vedant Kabra, as quoted by India Today.

Smokeless tobacco, such as gutka and paan masala, is widely used and is responsible for 90% of oral cancers in India.

Cervical cancer can occur due to persistent HPV infection, early sexual activity, multiple partners and lack of vaccination against HPV contribute to the high incidence.

Lung cancer is usually linked to exposure to environmental pollutants and indoor air pollution from cooking fuels. It is estimated that an average person in the National Capital Region (NCR) inhales environmental pollution equivalent to smoking 15 to 20 cigarettes daily.

“India’s dining environment has changed significantly in recent years due to globalization and urbanization. Young Indians are increasingly consuming processed foods, sweetened drinks and high-fat meals as part of their Westernized diet. This change has led to a worrying increase in diabetes and cardiovascular disease among young people, as well as a spike in obesity rates,” said Dr. Dinesh Singh, Chairman, Radiation Oncology, Andromeda Cancer Hospital, Sonipat, as quoted by The Times of India.

“Cancer continues to pose a serious threat to the lives of young Indians even as incidence rates have declined. A large number of young Indians may delay getting regular checkups or medical attention until their symptoms become really severe,” added Dr. Singh added, quoted by The Times of India.

Cancer in children

The Apollo Hospitals report also noted certain cancers are more likely to affect younger people than in countries such as the US and Britain. For example, the average age for lung cancer is 59 years in India, but 70 years in the US, 75 years in Britain and 68 years in China.

About a million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in India every year, of which about 4% are in children.

According to Ruchira Misra, pediatric oncologist and senior consultant at MMR Children’s Hospital in Mumbai, only 41% of public hospitals have a dedicated ward for pediatric cancer patients.

How to prevent cancer

Although genetic mutations cannot be controlled, certain lifestyle and environmental changes can be made to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Experts emphasize the importance of preventive health care measures and encourage people to get screened. “There is no doubt that cancer is growing and everyone must prioritize action. For example, the government should encourage screening as a first measure,” Nitesh Rohatgi, senior director of medical oncology at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute, told DW.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a 30-40% cancer burden can be attributed to lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity.

The WHO and the American Institute of Cancer Research recommend diet and nutritional changes to prevent cancer. These include healthy diets, physical activity and weight management – ​​which may not reduce the risk of cancer, but do help prevent obesity and other chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Decreasing tobacco exposure is another way to prevent the disease.

According to a study published in Nutrition Journal, protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, chlorophyll and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin).

“The basic idea is to eat a reduced amount of food (about 70-80% of the amount needed to maintain a “normal” body weight) while still getting all the necessary amounts of vitamins, minerals and other necessary nutrients . limitation is the total amount of energy (calories) consumed. Although difficult to put into practice, this approach has considerable scientific value because it can potentially extend the average lifespan of many animal species, including rats, mice, and fish. primates (currently being tested),” the journal said.

Boost immunity and stem cell growth by eating seafood and oily fish, berries, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Sleep more than seven hours, exercise regularly, and try intermittent fasting. Intake of foods such as vegetables, mangoes and Greek yogurt that enhance DNA repair; improve your gut bacteria by eating grapes, black tea, pomegranate and fish oil, says the magazine as reported by The Indian Express.