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India Ranks Second in Asia for Cancer Cases and Deaths in 2019

  • 05 Jan 2024

In a concerning revelation, India emerged as the second-highest contributor to Asia's cancer burden in 2019, reporting a staggering 12 lakh new cases and 9.3 lakh deaths, according to a recent comprehensive study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal.

Key Points

  • Alarming Statistics: India reported 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9.3 lakh deaths in 2019, placing it as the second-highest contributor to Asia's cancer burden.
  • Regional Trends: China, Japan, and India lead in new cancer cases and deaths in Asia, marking cancer as a significant public health threat with 94 lakh new cases and 56 lakh deaths in 2019.
  • Leading Cancers: Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer top the list in Asia, causing 13 lakh cases and 12 lakh deaths, being most prevalent in men and third in women.
  • Cervical Cancer Concern: Cervical cancer ranks high among women in various Asian countries, emphasizing the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine introduced in 2006.
  • Top Cancer Types: TBL, breast, colon, rectum cancer (CRC), stomach, and non-melanoma skin cancer are among the top five in Asia in 2019, with smoking, alcohol, and air pollution identified as dominant risk factors.
  • Air Pollution Impact: Rising cancer burden linked to increasing ambient air pollution is a significant concern, especially in Asian countries with high levels of PM2.5, such as India, Nepal, Qatar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
  • Factors Driving Pollution: Industry-led economic growth, urbanization, rural-to-urban migration, and increased motor vehicle usage contribute to escalating air pollution in Asia.
  • Smokeless Tobacco Impact: High prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SMT) in South Asian countries, especially India, leads to 32.9% of global deaths and 28.1% of new cases of lip and oral cavity cancer in 2019.
  • Helicobacter pylori Connection: Improved water and sanitation can help reduce H. pylori transmission, potentially lowering the risk of stomach cancer.
  • Development Impact: Developing countries experience a shift in cancer burden, with reduced cases in younger age groups and increased cases associated with longer life expectancy, such as prostate, pancreatic, and breast cancer.
  • Challenges in LMICs: Low- and medium-income countries (LMICs) face challenges with scarce and unaffordable oncologic infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
  • Policy Recommendations: Timely availability of cancer screening and treatment, along with cost-effectiveness and coverage of treatment expenses, should be a policy priority in LMICs.