India: Nearly a third of cancers linked to tobacco in 2020

The National Cancer Registry of India (NCRI), in its report published on August 18, 2020, confirms the health and social burden of smoking-related cancers since in this country 27% cases of cancer are directly linked to tobacco consumption.

The report is based on data from 2012 to 2016 obtained from 28 cancer registries concerning the general population and 58 registries concerning the hospital environment. An increase in the number of cases of 12 % is envisaged by 2025. These cancers linked to the consumption of all forms of tobacco were the most frequent in the northeast of the country and among men.

In men, the most common locations are: lungs, mouth, esophagus and stomach; in women: breast and cervix. For Dr Mehul Bhansali, head of surgical oncology at Jaslok Hospital & Research Center, the rapid increase in the frequency of breast cancer in women is linked to the consumption of tobacco and alcohol.

Earlier this year, a WHO report[1] had already revealed the burden of all cancers in India with 1.16 million new cases in 2018; one in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime and one in 15 will die from it.

According to WHO, the largest increase in new cancer cases – an estimated 81% – will occur in low- and middle-income countries, where survival rates are currently lowest. This is because these countries have limited health resources, which are mainly used to combat infectious diseases and improve maternal and child health. In addition, health services in these countries are poorly equipped to prevent, diagnose and treat cancers. Addressing tobacco use is an effective strategy to prevent new cases of cancer and, more generally, non-communicable diseases.