India has now become the most populous country in the world, with over 40,000 children born every day. However, alongside this population increase, there are alarming trends concerning public health. India is experiencing a rapid rise in the number of cancer cases, with projections suggesting it will become the cancer capital of the world by next year. Media reports indicate that annual cancer cases will rise to 1.57 million by 2025, up from 1.46 million in 2022.
Medical professionals report that one in every nine Indians suffers from cancer, either knowingly or unknowingly. Alarmingly, 80 percent of cancer cases in India are diagnosed too late, resulting in thousands of preventable deaths. Timely examination and treatment could save many lives.
Currently, there are over 26 million cancer patients in India. Over the past 22 years, more than 15 million people have died from the disease, placing India third globally, after China and the United States. It is estimated that by 2025, the number of cancer patients in India could rise to 30 million.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in India, according to a WHO report. However, the disease manifests in various forms, affecting different organs or sometimes multiple organs simultaneously. A 2022 report reveals that 13.6 percent of cancer cases in India were breast cancer, followed by oral cancer (10.2%), uterine cancer (9%), lung cancer (5.8%), and esophageal cancer (5%).
Doctors advise that certain symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention. These include persistent hoarseness, unexplained lumps, or significant weight loss. Other warning signs of cancer include non-healing sores on the body, especially in the mouth, on the lips, or on the tongue. Sudden lump formation, abnormal bleeding from any body orifice, coughing or vomiting blood, and blood in the urine or stool are also critical symptoms that require urgent health check-ups.
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