Cancer is becoming a major threat for India, by 2040 there will be 2 million patients in the country.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Cancer is becoming a major health challenge in India. Once a disease associated with old age, it is now increasingly affecting young and middle-aged individuals. Changing lifestyles, aging, pollution, and poor eating habits are expected to worsen the situation in the coming years. The central government has also expressed concern about this.

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, while giving information in Parliament, stated that if current conditions remain the same, the number of cancer patients in India could reach 2 million by the year 2040. This figure is not only frightening but also a major warning for the country's healthcare system. 

The growing burden of cancer in India

During Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India ranks third in the world in cancer cases, with the highest number of cancer patients after China and the United States. He added that the nature of diseases is changing, and that diseases that previously affected older people are now appearing in younger people. Cancer is one of these diseases.

Why may cancer patients increase by 2040?

1. The elderly population is growing rapidly - The number of people over 60 years of age in India is steadily increasing. Since the risk of cancer increases with age, as the number of elderly people increases, so too will the number of cancer patients. According to studies, cancer is most prevalent among people aged 60 to 74. The changing population size and age structure are driving the significant increase in total cases.

2. Lifestyle habits - Today's lifestyle is inviting cancer. According to medical research, approximately 70 percent of cancer cases in India are preventable, but this requires a change in habits. The main causes are tobacco and gutkha consumption, excessive alcohol consumption, junk food consumption, a lack of an inbalanced diet and physical activity, and obesity. Of these, tobacco remains the leading cause of cancer in India. 

Pollution is also becoming a big threat

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified air pollution as a cancer-causing factor. In many Indian cities, PM2.5 levels exceed safe limits. Long-term exposure to polluted air increases the risk of lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked. 

Which cancers are increasing rapidly in India?

The prevalence of cancer in India varies across regions. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, followed by cervical cancer. HPV vaccination and timely screening have shown improvement. Oral cancer in men and lung cancer are also increasing in women. Colorectal cancer is rapidly increasing in urban areas. This is a non-tobacco-related cancer. Head and neck cancer is more prevalent in the northeastern states. Government and health agency estimates suggest that 1 in 9 Indians will develop cancer at some point in their lives. This data indicates that cancer is no longer a disease of any one group or age group. 

The Minister of State stated that cancer treatment facilities are being developed in almost every district hospital in the country. The government is striving to make treatment available to people at low cost or free of cost. A comprehensive plan is underway in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. 

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