An analysis of cancer incidences and mortality in India

Abstract

With changing lifestyle, enhanced longevity and better control of contagious diseases, non-communicable diseases have emerged as most important health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries. Cancer is the second most common disease in India after cardiac diseases, responsible for maximum mortality with about 0.3 million deaths per year. This is due to the poor accessibility of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Cancers of all types have been reported in India including the cancers of skin, lungs, breast, rectum, stomach, prostate, liver, cervix, esophagus, bladder, blood, mouth etc. The causes of such high rate of incidence of cancers may be both internal (hormonal imbalance, genetic mutations and poor immunity system) and external or environmental factors (excessive use of pesticides, poor or improper food habits, industrialization, over growth of population, etc.). In view of these facts, the present article describes the spatial pattern in cancers cases in India. Besides, attempts have been made to describe the main causes of cancer along with the effect of cancer cases on the economy of India.