MAJOR PUBLIC

HEALTH &
LIFESTYLE
ISSUES IN
INDIA :

CANCER
 OVERVIEW
 Cancer is a disease caused when cells divide
uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues.
 Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of
the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The
cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding
healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes
begins in one part of the body before spreading to
other areas. This process is known as metastasis
 What are the four stages of cancer?
 Most cancers have four stages. The specific stage is
determined by a few different factors, including the
size and location of the tumor:
 Stage I: Cancer is localized to a small area and
hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other tissues.
 Stage II: Cancer has grown, but it hasn’t spread.
 Stage III: Cancer has grown larger and has possibly
spread to lymph nodes or other tissues.
 Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other organs or areas
of your body. This stage is also referred to as 
metastatic or advanced cancer.
 What are the 5 types of cancer?
 There are five main types of cancer. These include:
 Carcinoma. This type of cancer affects organs and
glands, such as the lungs, breasts, pancreas and skin.
Carcinoma is the most common type of cancer.
 Sarcoma. This cancer affects soft or connective tissues,
such as muscle, fat, bone, cartilage or blood vessels.
 Melanoma. Sometimes cancer can develop in the cells
that pigment your skin. These cancers are called
melanoma.
 Lymphoma. This cancer affects your lymphocytes or
white blood cells.
 Leukemia. This type of cancer affects blood.
 KEY CANCER FACTS
 10 million people die from cancer every year.
 At least one third of common cancers are
preventable.
 Cancer is the second-leading cause of death
worldwide.
 70% of cancer deaths occur in low-to-middle income
countries.
 Millions of lives could be saved each year by
implementing resource appropriate strategies for
prevention, early detection and treatment.
 World cancer day is on 4th february
 LATEST
REPORT OF PEOPLE SUFFERING
FROM CANCER
 India’s cancer burden: Cases & deaths increased last
decade
 Globally, cancer cases increased 21% and deaths 26%
from 2010-2019
 Cancer cases in India increased at an average annual
rate of 1.1-2 per cent from 2010-2019, according to a
new report. Deaths from cancer in the country also
went up at an average rate of 0.1-1 per cent in the
same period
 As many as 1,392,179 people in India had cancer in
2020, projections from another study showed. The five
leading sites of the disease were breast, lung, mouth,
cervix, uteri and tongue, researchers found. 
 As many as 1,392,179 people in India had cancer in 2020,
projections from another study showed. The five leading sites of
the disease were breast, lung, mouth, cervix, uteri and tongue,
researchers found. 
 Among men, the projected incidence was 94.1 per 100,000
individuals and for women, it was 103.6 per 100,000 individuals for
2020, according to the Cancer Statistics Report, 2020.
 Globally, ew cancer cases jumped to over 23 million in 2019 from
18.7 million in 2010. Cancer deaths reached 10 million in 2019
from 8.29 million in 2010. These figures represent an increase of
20.9 per cent and 26.3 per cent respectively.
 The authors of the report analysed data from 204 countries and
territories from 2010 through 2019 to assess cancer burden across
locations and time. They found that tracheal, bronchus and lung
(TBL) cancer was the leading cause of cancer globally, followed by
colon and rectum, stomach, breast and pancreatic cancer
respectively. 
 In 2019, the disease was the leading cause of deaths
globally after cardiovascular diseases, the report showed.
TBL cancer was the top cause of cancer deaths among
males in 119 countries and territories and females in 27
countries and territories.
 The researchers analysed cancer burden based on the
socio-demographic index (SDI), a composite measure of
income per capita, average years of education and total
fertility rate for people younger than 25 years of age.  
 SDI is classified into five categories: Low, low-middle,
middle, high-middle and high. 
 (India falls in the low-middle category. In lower-middle
countries, the findings show that there is definitely an
increase in incidence (new cases) as well as mortality.)
 Cancer cases and deaths were the highest in low and
low-middle SDI countries and regions. By 2040,
researchers predict that more than two-thirds of the
world’s cancer cases will occur in low- and middle-
income countries.
What causes cancer?
 Several factors contribute to the development of cancer in your body. 
Smoking and using tobacco products is one of the main causes of:
 Lung cancer.
 Oral cancer.
 Laryngeal cancer.
 Esophageal cancer.
 Other causes of cancer include:
 An unhealthy lifestyle. Eating high-fat or high-sugar foods can increase your
risk for many types of cancer. You’re also more vulnerable to disease if you don’t
get enough exercise.
 A toxic environment. Exposure to toxins in your environment, such as asbestos,
pesticides and radon, can eventually lead to cancer.
 Radiation exposure. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun significantly increases
your risk for skin cancer. Over-exposure to radiation treatment can also be a risk
factor.
 Hormone therapy. Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy may
have an increased risk for breast cancer and endometrial cancer.
 PREVENTION
 Though cancer can’t be prevented altogether, there
are certain things you can do to reduce your risk. For
example:

 Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.

 Stay physically active.
 Eat a healthy diet.
 Use proper daily sun protection.
 Get vaccinated.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
Once your medical team has given you a diagnosis, they’ll design a
personalized treatment plan based on their findings. Cancer treatment
may include:

 Chemotherapy. One of the most common cancer treatments,

chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be given through an IV or in pill form.
 Radiation therapy. This treatment kills cancer cells with high
dosages of radiation. In some instances, radiation may be given at
the same time as chemotherapy.
 Surgery. In some cases, your surgeon can surgically remove the
tumor.
 Hormone therapy. Sometimes hormones can block other cancer-
causing hormones. For example, men with prostate cancer might be
given hormones to keep testosterone (which contributes to prostate
cancer) at bay.
 Biological response modifier therapy. This treatment
stimulates your immune system and helps it perform
more effectively. It does this by changing your body’s
natural processes.
 Immunotherapy. Sometimes called biological therapy,
immunotherapy treats disease by using the power of
your body’s immune system. It can target cancer cells
while leaving healthy cells intact.
 Bone marrow transplant. Also called stem cell
transplantation, this treatment replaces damaged stem
cells with healthy ones. Prior to transplantation, you’ll
undergo chemotherapy to prepare your body for the
process.
What is the first sign of cancer?
 Cancer symptoms can vary significantly for each
person. However, there are a few things that could
indicate the early signs of disease. Schedule an
appointment with your healthcare provider if you
experience:
 Unexplained weight loss.
 Chronic tiredness.
 Persistent pain.
 Fever that occurs mostly at night.
 Skin changes.