Incidence and pattern of distribution of cancer in India: A secondary data analysis from six population-.based cancer registries

Abstract

Background: The incidence of cancer is on the rise in India as well as around the globe. Earlier oral, breast, and cervical cancers constituted a major burden of cancer in India. However, the recent world statistics suggest that the proportion of lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers is increasing. The Indian National Cancer Registry reports provide robust data regarding the cancer incidence in India. Objectives: We aimed to analyze the Indian National Cancer Registry report of 2020 to determine whether there has been a change in the trend of cancer incidence. Materials and Methods: Six population-based cancer registries (PBCR) with the highest number of patients were selected from each zone of the country. From these, a total of 1,87,891 patients were included in the study to ensure a pan-India representation. The relative proportion of oral, breast, cervical, lung, ovarian, endometrial, and prostate cancers was determined from these PBCRs. The mean of these values for each of these cancer types from the six PBCRs was considered the mean proportion of these cancer types across the country. Results: According to data from the PBCRs, lung and oral cancers were found to be the leading cancer types among men, and breast and cervix uteri cancers among women. The mean relative proportions showed that oral, breast, and cervical cancers still constitute the major bulk of this disease in India. Moreover, it was observed that the incidence of lung cancer has significantly increased. Likewise, the incidence of the cancers of the prostate, ovary and endometrium is also on the rise. The highest age-adjusted incidence rates (AAR) for men were noted in the Aizawl district of Mizoram and the highest AAR for women was in Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh. Conclusion: There continues to be a disproportionately high incidence of cancers in northeast India. Policymakers and healthcare professionals should focus on the emerging cancers along with oral, breast, and cervical cancers, which still constitute the major cancer burden in our country.