Women in India are more likely to get cancer. Men are more likely to die from it. The paradox, revealed in a study of the country's latest cancer registry, tells a story at once simple and confounding.
Women account for just over half of all new cases, but men make up the majority of deaths.
India appears to be an outlier. In 2022, for every 100,000 people worldwide, on average about 197 were diagnosed with cancer that year. Men fared worse, at 212, compared to 186 for women, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.
In India, the most common cancers among women are breast, cervical, and ovarian. Breast and cervical cancers make up 40% of female cases. Cervical cancer is largely linked to infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), while breast and ovarian cancers are often influenced by hormonal factors, with lifestyle shifts like later pregnancies and obesity also playing a role.
For men, oral, lung, and prostate cancers dominate, driven mostly by tobacco use. While awareness campaigns and improved facilities mean cancers common among women are often detected earlier, resulting in lower mortality rates, many men are less likely to seek preventive check-ups or medical help, which contributes to higher mortality rates.
The cancer burden in India is not only growing but also becoming more complex. Data shows that 11 out of every 100 people in India run the risk of developing cancer at some point during their life. In 2024, an estimated 1.56 million cases and 874,000 deaths from cancer are projected.
This report underscores the urgent need for targeted prevention, early detection initiatives, and comprehensive health education campaigns tailored to both genders to address the inequities in cancer outcomes across the country.
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