India witnessed 14.1 lakh fresh cancer cases with 9.1 lakh fatalities, as reported by WHO.
The highest incidence of cancer in men was observed in the lip, oral cavity, and lung, constituting 15.6% and 8.5% of the new cases, respectively. Conversely, women experienced a higher prevalence of breast and cervix cancers, comprising approximately 27% and 18% of the newly reported cases.
In 2022, India witnessed a staggering number of cancer cases, surpassing 14.1 lakh, with over 9.1 lakh individuals succumbing to the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed these alarming statistics, underscoring breast cancer as the most prevalent form. For men, cancers of the lip, oral cavity, and lung were predominant, constituting 15.6% and 8.5% of new cases, respectively. Meanwhile, breast and cervix cancers were the leading types in women, accounting for approximately 27% and 18% of new cases, according to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO's cancer agency.
The IARC further computed that nearly 32.6 lakhs of individuals in India survived within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis. Globally, the agency projected an alarming figure of 2 crore new cancer cases and 97 lakh deaths, with approximately 5.3 crore individuals living beyond 5 years post-diagnosis. The WHO emphasized the alarming fact that one in five people develops cancer during their lifetime, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women.
India faces a cancer risk of 10.6% before the age of 75, with a 7.2% likelihood of dying from cancer by the same age. Globally, these risks are higher at 20% and 9.6%, respectively. The WHO highlighted a significant lack of funding for cancer and palliative care services in most countries. Among 115 surveyed nations, only 39% covered basic cancer management in their financed core health services, and a mere 28% additionally covered palliative care, including pain relief, according to the UN public health agency.
The IARC's global estimates showcased that ten specific types of cancer collectively constituted around two-thirds of new cases and deaths in 2022. Their data, covering 185 countries and 36 cancers, identified lung cancer as the most commonly occurring (12.4% of total new cases) and the leading cause of cancer deaths (almost 19% of total cancer deaths). Persistent tobacco use in Asia was identified as a likely contributor to the resurgence of lung cancer as the most prevalent cancer.
Breast cancer in women ranked as the second most commonly occurring cancer (11.6% of total new cases) and contributed to nearly 7% of global cancer deaths, according to the IARC. Notably, cervical cancer emerged as the eighth most commonly occurring cancer globally and the ninth leading cause of cancer death. It was the most prevalent cancer in women in 25 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
The IARC asserted that cervical cancer could be eliminated as a public health problem through the scale-up of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative. In August 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination, urging all countries to maintain an incidence rate below 4 per 1 lakh women. The WHO recommended fully inoculating 90% of girls with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine before the age of 15, screening 70% of women by the age of 35 and again by 45, and treating 90% of women with pre-cancer, along with managing 90% of women with invasive cancer. Each country should achieve these 90-70-90 targets by 2030 to pave the way for eliminating cervical cancer within the next century.
Examining cancer statistics continent-wise, the IARC found that the age-standardized incidence rate for all cancers was highest in Oceania, with 409 per 1 lakh people, followed by Northern America and Europe with 365 and 280 per 1 lakh people, respectively. Regionally, the highest incidence was recorded in the Australia-New Zealand region, surpassing 400 per 1 lakh people, followed closely by Northern America.
The IARC analysis further disclosed that the age-standardized rate of deaths per 1 lakh people was highest in Europe at 82, followed by Africa at 72 and Asia at 69. Oceania faced the highest risk of developing cancer before turning 75, at about 38%, followed by Northern America at 34% and Europe at almost 28%, according to the agency's estimates. However, the death risk from cancer was highest in Europe at 11.5%, with Asia and Oceania following closely at 9.3%.
Looking ahead, the IARC predicted a worrisome scenario, with over 35 million new cancer cases anticipated in 2050, marking a staggering 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. The agency attributed this rising cancer burden to population aging, growth, and changes in exposure to risk factors associated with socioeconomic development. Key factors driving the increase include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and obesity, with air pollution remaining a significant environmental risk factor.
In conclusion, the global landscape of cancer remains a critical public health concern, with India facing substantial challenges in combating the disease's impact. The WHO and IARC's comprehensive insights underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment on a global scale to alleviate the growing burden of this devastating ailment.
