NEW DELHI: Cancer incidence in India has risen sharply over the past three decades, increasing by 26% from 84.8 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023, according to a new study published in The Lancet. Deaths from cancer during the same period grew by 21%, despite advances in treatment.
In stark contrast, both incidence and mortality have declined in the US and China. The study attributes this to strong tobacco control, universal vaccination programmes, and organised cancer screening. “India continues to fare poorly because of high tobacco use, obesity, infections, and limited access to early detection,” said Dr Abhishek Shankar, radiation oncologist at AIIMS Delhi.
Globally, an estimated 10.4 million people died of cancer in 2023, with 42% of deaths (4.3 million) linked to 44 modifiable risk factors. Tobacco use alone accounted for 21% of cancer deaths worldwide, the study said.
Lead author Dr Lisa Force of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, warned of a disproportionate rise in cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries. “Despite the clear need for action, cancer control policies remain under-prioritised and underfunded,” she said.
In India, most cancers are detected at advanced stages, leading to poor survival rates. A parliamentary panel last year urged higher tobacco taxes, wider screening, and integration of cancer care into the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It also suggested dedicating one day each month to nationwide cancer screening under a Jan Andolan-style campaign.
Experts stressed that scaling up HPV and Hepatitis-B vaccination, mammography, lung cancer CT scans, and colonoscopy screening—along with timely treatment—will be key to reversing India’s cancer trajectory.
