In accordance with the report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on the ‘Burden of cancers in India- estimates of cancer crude incidence, YLLs, YLDs and DALYs for 2021 and 2025 based on National Cancer Registry Program’, the number of Indians suffering from cancer is projected to increase to 29.8 million in 2025 from 26.7 million in 2021.
- In 2021, the highest incidence was in North India (2,408 patients per 100,000) and the Northeast (2,177 per 100,000). It was higher among men.
- The findings of the report have been published in BMC Cancer Journal.
This study quantifies the cancer burden in India for 2016, adjusted mortality to incidence (AMI) ratio and projections for 2021 and 2025 from the National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) and other publicly available data sources.
2021-2025 projections as per Report:
i.Men will contribute to 14.7 million Years of Life Lost (YLLs), 0.72 million Years Lived with Disability (YLDs); and 15.5 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2025.
ii.This figure for women will be 13.6 million YLLs, 0.69 million YLDs and 14.3 DALYs.
Key Highlights:
i.Mizoram, Delhi and Meghalaya had the highest cancer DALYs; and the most vulnerable demographic are people in the 65–69-year age group.
ii.Seven cancers accounted for more than 40% of the total disease burden: lung (10.6%), breast (10.5%), oesophagus (5.8%), mouth (5.7%), stomach (5.2%), liver (4.6%) and cervix uteri (4.3%).
iii. Earlier, tobacco and alcohol consumption were considered the major reasons for cancer, but, now increasing consumption of packaged food with harmful preservatives and junk food is is a contributory factor.
- Other actors include Obesity, radiation from mobile phone towers, vegetables grown in toxic water like rivers near industries, adulteration in food, artificial colouring of food and vegetables.
iv.There is a need for better survivorship initiatives for cancers of people of low socioeconomic status (SES).
Recent Related News:
i.The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V. (DFG), Germany signed in December 2021, and in accordance with Rule 7(d)(i) of the Second Schedule of Government of India (Transaction of Business) rules 1961. The MoU envisages cooperation in scientific research and technological development.
ii.According to the ‘India TB Report 2022 – Coming Together to End TB Altogether’, India has recorded a 19% increase in Tuberculosis(TB) cases in 2021 over 2020 & as per ‘National TB Prevalence Survey in India 2019-2021’ Report, Delhi has topped the TB Prevalence in India(among the population aged above 15 years and among all age groups) with 534 cases per 1 lakh population and 747 per 1 Lakh population (highest in India) respectively.
About Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
It is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
Director General– Prof. Balram Bhargava
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
