Context: Recently a report released by Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), a longitudinal survey to examine aging and retirement among India’s population aged 45 and above.  

Key highlights of the report

• Every 20th Indian family has a history of cancer.
• The difference in survivorship of women in older age groups is higher.
• The most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in India among men is that in oral and cavity.
• Breast cancer is the leading form of commonly diagnosed cancers among women.

Cancer is more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural India.

• This difference more than doubles in case of adults aged 60 and above, with 1.1 per cent cases in urban areas compared to 0.5 per cent in rural.
• Himachal Pradesh showed highest self-reported prevalence of cancer and other malignant tumours in adults aged 45 and above (2.2 per cent).

With 2.9 per cent in case of senior citizens (aged 60 and above).

• Himachal Pradesh was followed by Kerala with 1.8 per cent cases in elderly and 1.6 per cent among all adults.

Geographical disparity

• Tamil Nadu showing least prevalence of diagnosed cancer cases among bigger states with 0.1 per cent found in elderly aged 60 and above.
• Nagaland accounted for the lowest number of diagnosed cancers followed by Bihar with 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

Diagnosis

• More than three-quarters of Indians above the age of 45 who were diagnosed with cancer were undergoing treatment.
• The percentage was higher among senior citizens in urban areas (90 per cent) than those living in rural areas with only 62 per cent seeking treatment after a cancer diagnosis.
• Treatment rent was relatively higher among women and urban residents among older adults as well as elderly.
• The percentage of older adults being treated for cancer was more than 50 per cent in all states and UTs except Assam, with only 25 per cent.
• Meghalaya, Manipur, Jammu Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Delhi reported 100 per cent treatment rate.
• Among the elderly (aged 60 and above), cancer treatment rate was around half across Maharashtra, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam.

Cancer Survival rate

• Cancer is the second- and fourth-leading cause of adult deaths in urban and rural India, respectively.
• Cancer survival rate in India is among the lowest in the world.
• Cancer survival rate for five years in India is lower than that in Europe or North America.
• For example, only 4 per cent patients with liver cancer survive for five years in India compared to 10-20 per cent elsewhere.

About 8.3 per cent of total deaths and 5.1 per cent of the total disability-adjusted life years in India in 2016 were due to cancer, double than those in 1990.

• According to report of National Cancer Registry Programme 2020, India’s cancer cases could increase by 12 per cent in the coming five years.

Causes of Cancer

• Mutations that may result from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication errors.
• Biological or internal factors, such as age, gender, inherited genetic defects and skin type.
• Environmental exposure, for instance to radon and UV radiation, and fine particulate matter.
• Occupational risk factors, including carcinogens such as many chemicals, radioactive materials and asbestos.
• Lifestyle-related factors, such as Tobacco & Alcohol.
• Aging is among the main risk factors for carcinogenesis in human beings.