Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context
- An analysis of the ‘Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023’, published in The Lancet, presents updated estimates of the cancer burden in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, along with projections up to 2050.
Global Cancer Burden (2023)
- New Cancer Diagnoses projected to increase by 60.7%, 30.5 million cases annually by 2050;
- Cancer deaths are projected to increase by 74.5%, amounting to 18.6 million per year by 2050, with low and middle income countries (LMICs) bearing the heaviest burden.
Cancer Burden in India
- About 26.4% surge in cancer incidence rates over the past three decades, increasing from 84.8 cases per 100,000 people in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023.
- Cancer mortality has risen by 21.2%, climbing from 71.7 deaths per 100,000 to 86.9 during the same period.
- India ranks 168th out of 204 nations in cancer death rates.
- Leading Cancer Types in India (Deaths per 100,000): Breast cancer (8.5); Lung cancer (8.4); Oesophageal cancer (8.2); Stomach cancer: 6.9; Oral cavity cancer (6.5).
Demographic and Socioeconomic Patterns
- In general, cancer incidence is highest in countries with higher life expectancy, education, and living standards.
- Certain cancers such as cervical cancer remain more common in low-HDI (Human Development Index) countries.
Risk Factors
- The study found that 41.7% of cancer deaths were linked to known risk factors, including behavioral, environmental, and metabolic determinants, strongly linked to modifiable lifestyle factors, including poor diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use.
India-Specific Risk Factors
- Betel nut and pan consumption: Oral cancer
- Tobacco use (smoking and smokeless forms): Lung, oral, head, neck, bladder, and kidney cancers
- Hot beverages: Oesophageal cancer
- Pickled and preserved foods: Stomach cancer
Breakthroughs in the Fight Against Cancer
- Personalized Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines train the immune system to target cancer cells, using mRNA technology.
- Trials are underway in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden.
- Blood Test for 18 Early-Stage Cancers: It analyzes blood proteins and identifies 93% of stage 1 cancers in men and 84% in women during trials.
- Seven-Minute Cancer Treatment Injection: It is a fast-administered injection that replaces hour-long IV infusions, improving patient experience and hospital efficiency.
- CRISPR Gene Editing: CRISPR is being explored to correct genetic mutations that cause cancer, offering potential for targeted therapies.
- Thermal Ablation: A minimally invasive technique that uses heat to destroy tumors, especially useful for liver and kidney cancers.
- CAR-T Cell Therapy Expansion: It is being adapted for solid tumors like brain and lung cancers, originally used for blood cancers.
India’s Response to Cancer
- National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): It focuses on screening and early detection of oral, breast, and cervical cancers.
- National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP): Tracks cancer trends and informs policy decisions.
- Day Care Cancer Centres: Planned in district hospitals to improve access to treatment.
- Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH): It supports startups and hospitals in deploying AI tools for screening, diagnostics, and treatment planning across the National Cancer Grid.
- Union Budget 2025–26: ₹99,858 crore was allocated with specific funding for cancer care infrastructure and research.
| About Cancer – It is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. – These cells can invade nearby tissues and, through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, spread to other parts of the body (a process called metastasis). – It is not infectious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another. – It is a non-communicable disease, often caused by genetic mutations, environmental exposures, or lifestyle factors Types of Tumors – Benign: Non-cancerous and generally do not spread; – Malignant: Cancerous, aggressive, and capable of spreading to other organs. |
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