A recent study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlights the increasing risk of cancer among older adults and middle-aged individuals in India. According to the study, published in ‘The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia’ journal, the elderly (aged 70 years and above) are at the highest risk, with more than 10 per cent likely to develop cancer and 7.7 per cent likely to die from it.
Middle-aged individuals (15-49 years) also face significant risks, with an 8.3 per cent chance of developing cancer and a 5.5 per cent likelihood of succumbing to the disease. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and strategies to address the escalating cancer burden in India, where approximately 70 per cent of cancer cases and deaths occur among the middle-aged and elderly populations.
The ICMR researchers project that over the next two decades, India will face a formidable challenge in managing cancer-related deaths, with an anticipated annual increase of two per cent in cases as the population ages. The study utilized data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 and the Global Health Observatory (GHO) databases, examining trends in 36 types of cancer across various age groups and genders over the past 20 years.
Notably, the study revealed that three in every five individuals diagnosed with cancer in India are likely to succumb to the disease. The five most common cancers affecting both genders collectively account for 44 per cent of the total cancer burden in the country. Among these, women bear a disproportionate burden, with breast cancer being the most prevalent, contributing to 13.8 per cent of new cases, followed by cervical cancer at 9.2 per cent.
The researchers emphasize the importance of increasing awareness and implementing effective cancer prevention and treatment strategies to combat the growing cancer crisis in India.
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