Incidences Of Cancer Estimated To Cross 15 Lakh By 2025: Indian Council Of Medical Research

In India by 2025, cases of cancer is estimated to cross 15 lakh, which is 35% higher than the 2014 figure, informed the Rajya Sabha."Based upon the estimates of National Center for Disease Informatics and Research of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), incidences of cancer are estimated to increase to 15,10,396 by 2025 which is 35.2% higher as compared to estimated figure of 2014," said Health Minister J P Nadda.

The increase in the number of cancer cases in the country may be attributes to larger number of aging population, unhealthy lifestyles, use of tobacco, unhealthy diet and others, said the health minister.

"As reported by ICMR, in 2012, the estimated number of cancer cases in the world by GLOBOCAN 2012, International Agency for Research on cancer, is 1,40,67,894 while for the same year, estimated number of cancer cases in India by ICMR is 10,57,205 which works out to be 7.5% of the total cases of the world," said Nadda.

According to National Cancer Registry Program of ICMR, estimated mortality due to cancer in the country in 2015 is 5,05,428 while it was 4,91,598 in 2014. "As informed by ICMR, based on National Cancer Registry Program Data, while 1 in 14 women in India (0-64 years of age) have a chance of developing cancer, the corresponding figure for men is 1 in 16," said Nadda.

The central government supplements the efforts of states for improving health care including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, he said. Under the National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and strokes in 2013-14, the government has also approved tertiary care for cancer scheme. In addition, treatment for cancer in government hospitals is either free or subsidized, he said.

Source-Medindia