Cancer Cases Increasing in India: The rapid increase in cancer cases in India is causing concern. If we look at the estimates of the Indian Cancer Society, in the next 20 years the number of new cancer cases in India may increase from 15 lakh to 24.5 lakh annually. Due to these cases increasing at almost double the speed, it is important to know the answers to these biggest questions: Will there be a cancer patient in every household by 2045? After all, why is the number of cancer patients increasing so rapidly? What are the cancers that are making people their victims quickly?
This warning from ICS comes at a time when several important steps have been announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 to increase access to cancer treatment, including exemption in custom duty on select cancer drugs and promotion of domestic biopharma production. However, public health experts say that focusing only on treatment is not enough to deal with the rapidly increasing cancer burden in India, and some more measures are needed to prevent it.
Indian Cancer Society gave information in the press conference about the increase in cancer cases in India.
about this Jyotsna Govil, President of Indian Cancer Society He said that with the speed with which cancer cases are increasing, the day is not far when cancer patients will be present in every house. The budget has definitely paid attention to affordable cancer treatment, but it is even more important that the patients do not reach a situation where such expensive treatment becomes their last resort. In cancer cases, it is very important to break myths, promote timely testing and disseminate scientific information to the people. It is important for timely cancer screening and diagnostic facilities to reach the underprivileged population.
Why are cases increasing in India, which cancer is becoming a bigger threat?
Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi, Senior Director, Medical Oncology, Fortis Memorial Hospital It is said that till a time in India cancer was seen in people above 70 but now most of the cancer patients are below 50, this is very worrying. Talking about cancer cases in India, breast and cervical cancer are spreading rapidly among women. Lung and oral cancer are present in men but patients of prostate cancer, kidney and colon cancer are being seen more in recent times.
I didn’t smoke but…
herself a cancer survivor and Dr. Urvashi Prasad, former director of NITI Aayog She says, I never smoked or consumed tobacco, but at the age of 35 I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Pollution may have also been a risk factor, but it is extremely challenging that cancer is occurring despite no mistake. I even saw liver cancer in a 3 month old baby.
Urvashi said that cancer can happen at any age, so do not be under the illusion that it has any age limit.
ICS Delhi Secretary of and herself recovered from breast cancer 30 years ago. Renuka Prasad Gave a great lesson to the common women and said that they should do prevention and not treatment. Diagnose cancer yourself, do self-examination. Giving her example, she said that one day she suddenly discovered a lump in her breast, which was the first stage of breast cancer. After this the treatment took place. Similarly, every woman can do her own investigation.
Prevent it like this
Public Health Consultant and Former WHO official Dr. Monica Puri Said that prevention is more important than cure. For this, cancer prevention is necessary under the concept of universal health coverage. He stressed the need to include prevention, screening and continuity of care into primary health systems. Also said that this is necessary to ensure access to the deprived population.
