Cancer Scenario

Global scenario of cancer

The global burden of cancer is large and growing larger (Figure.2). Each year, more than 11 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. By the year 2020, this number is expected to increase to 16 million. Cancer causes more than eight million deaths each year, or approximately 13 percent of all deaths worldwide. Within developing countries, cancer is projected to increase rapidly over the next few decades. Unless current trends change, cancer in developing countries is expected to represent 70 percent of the global cancer burden by the year 2030, a statistic driven by demographic shifts toward more elderly populations and the movement toward more Western lifestyles, most notably increased per capita tobacco consumption and higher-fat, low-fibre diets.

Cancer Scenario in India

A data of cancer patients was compiled from 2004 to 2010 in India is shown in (Figure 3.) Based on the increasing trends of cancer patients during the last few decades, the numbers of cancer patients have been predicted by the end of 2015 and 2020 in India. These compiled data show that the number of male, female and the total cancer patients in 2004 were 390809, 428545 and 819354 respectively. The number of male and female cancer patients increased continuously up to 2009, with 454842, 507990 and 962832 cases for male, female and total cancer patients, respectively. Similarly, 462408 male cancer patients and 517378 female cancer patients were recorded, with a total number of 979786 patients in 2010. Thus, it is clear from this Figure that the number of cancer cases has increased gradually with time. Moreover, a prediction of cancer patients in 2015 and 2020, respectively, has also been made.

Indian states and cancers

The state wise distribution of different cancer patients in India is shown in (Figure 4) A perusal of this Figure clearly shows that lung cancer is the most common cancer in various states. The most effected states of India due to this cancer are Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura and Manipur. It is also clear from this Figure that cervical cancer is the second most common form of malignancy in female population of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Goa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal while it stands at third position in females of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the women of HimachalPradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Nagaland and Goa, and the second most common form of malignancy in females of Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Tripura, breast cancer represents the third most common form of cancer in women folks. This Figure also dictates that stomach cancer is the third commonly reported cancer in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Goa sates. It is the second most common cancer in Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland and the third most common type of malignancy in Jammu & Kashmir. Oral cancer stands at second and third positions in Goa and Assam states, respectively. Head and neck cancer patients have been observed in Tripura. Oesophageal cancer is a common type of malignancy after lung cancer in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Karnataka. Of course, Gall bladdercancer is not frequent in India but it has been diagnosed in certain parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Tongue cancer is the most common type of cancer in Madhya Pradesh; especially in Bhopal while it stands at second position in Goa. Oropharyngeal cancer is prevalent in Haryana and Meghalaya. This Figure also shows that some other types of cancers viz. skin, laryngeal and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are rare in India but some cases have been diagnosed in Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. Cancers of ovary, prostate and brain have been reported only at some places in Rajasthan. The prostate and brain cancers were also found in males of Rajasthan.