In India, cancer cases are surging across all age groups, raising serious public health concerns. Lifestyle changes, environmental factors, and improved diagnostics are factors causing this rise in cancers. Greater awareness, preventive action, and timely treatment are now more important than ever.
In children, there is a noticeable rise in leukaemia cases, although recent trends suggest some reduction. Among young adults, there has been an increase in oral, thyroid, breast, and colorectal cancer. These cancers reflect current lifestyles, which include unhealthy diet, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and rising obesity levels. In the older population, colorectal, renal, and pancreatic cancers are more common. Individuals above 60 years are prone to cancer and more so because of longer life expectancy today.
Dr Prathamesh Pai, chief, head and neck surgical oncologist, Gleneagles Hospital in Parel, said, “Head and neck cancers account for 30 per cent of all cancers in the country, in contrast to 3 per cent in the West. This translates into 10 to 12 lakh new cancer cases annually, of which 70–80 per cent are oral cancers. The second most common cancers we are dealing with are thyroid cancers, which have seen a three-fold increase in the past few years.”
Oral cancers, paradoxically, affect visible areas of the mouth, such as the tongue and inner cheek, and yet are detected in advanced stages with an average delay of six months from the time symptoms begin. Public awareness of early detection is needed. Since these are parts of the mouth people see daily while brushing and cleaning, one needs to pay attention to early warning signs.
Dr Pai adds, “Oral cancer remains the biggest burden in India, and most are diagnosed in advanced stages III and IV, and 50 per cent will die in the first year following treatment, bringing into focus the need to detect them earlier at stages I and II.” Approximately 200 to 250 cancer surgeries are performed by most cancer surgeons annually, and nearly 70 per cent are for oral cancers. highlighting the significant burden of this disease in the country.
Oral cancers are increasingly being diagnosed in young adults who often are habituated to tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut (supari). Supari is a common ingredient of pan, ghutka, and other preparations commonly consumed daily. Betel nut is as bad as tobacco and is a Group 1 carcinogen. Regular use of betel nut causes oral submucous fibrosis, which is highly prevalent in our population. This condition results in a reduction of mouth opening and significantly increases the risk of oral cancer. Earlier, this was more common in men, but today, we are seeing it on the rise in women who are smoking and consuming alcohol.
In the very young patients, cancers are linked to genetic or familial factors. However, in the later decades of life, most cases are related to habits such as tobacco and alcohol. There is a worrying rise in smoking among young girls, along with higher alcohol consumption. These poor lifestyle choices are directly contributing to the growing incidence of cancer. Diet also plays an important role, with highly processed and junk foods being consumed, leading to increased obesity, which is strongly linked to breast and colorectal cancers.
The rise in thyroid cancers, besides environmental factors, is due to incidental detection in people undergoing CT scans and ultrasounds for other reasons. These incidental tumours are often in younger patients, are smaller, and mostly indolent with a good prognosis. “Thyroid cancers behave very differently from many other cancers. They are usually slow-growing and associated with excellent survival outcomes. In patients below 55 years of age, small tumours less than 4 cm, which are well-differentiated cancers, are at low risk of dying and survival rates of 99 per cent at 20 years are expected with proper treatment. Most patients can expect a near-normal life expectancy after proper treatment,” highlighted Dr Pai.
Mumbai and other growing cities in Maharashtra have seen a manifold rise in air pollution. Air pollution, too, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Pollutions result in non-smokers being exposed to carcinogens similar to smoking one cigarette a day. Long-term exposure to polluted air causes chronic inflammation, DNA damage, and mutations, increasing the risk of lung cancer by 15 per cent to 30 per cent.
Dr Nilesh Lokeshwar, medical oncologist at Zen Multi-speciality Hospital, Chembur, said, “The changing landscape of cancer in India has become not just a medical issue but a serious challenge linked to social and lifestyle factors. The rising incidence of oral cancer, thyroid cancer, and lifestyle-related cancers, especially among the younger generation, is a matter of concern. Tobacco use, areca nut consumption, alcohol intake, processed foods, obesity, and increasing air pollution are key factors behind this rise. Unfortunately, many patients still ignore symptoms and seek treatment only in the third or fourth stage, which increases the mortality rate.”
Many patients often present to chest physicians with dry cough, throat irritation, and difficulty in breathing, which goes undiagnosed. Persistent symptoms should alert people to seek the opinion of specialists, though they may not be consumers of tobacco and alcohol. “Rising pollution levels are leading to asthma, repeated infections, and breathing problems in children. This highlights an urgent need for early screening and stronger pollution control measures. ‘Awareness, timely diagnosis, and preventive action can reduce the growing cancer burden in the country,” concluded Dr Pai.
The most effective weapon in the fight against cancer is “early detection and prevention.” Symptoms such as non-healing sores in the mouth, white or red patches, difficulty in swallowing, or the presence of lumps should prompt immediate medical consultation. At the same time, adopting habits like avoiding tobacco, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and protecting oneself from pollution can reduce the risk of cancer. With timely diagnosis and advanced treatment, patients can lead a long, healthy, and active life,” concludes Dr Lokeshwar.
Mumbai doctors notice rise in cases of lifestyle-linked cancers, express caution
