Women in India are more likely to get cancer, while men are more likely to die from it. This paradox, highlighted in a recent study of the nation's cancer registry, paints a complex picture of gender-based health disparities.
Women make up over half of all new cancer cases in India, yet men dominate the cancer death statistics. Global statistics indicate a different trend, with men generally facing a higher cancer diagnosis rate than women. In 2022, for instance, the average diagnosis rate was 212 per 100,000 men compared to 186 women.
Among Indian women, breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers are the most common, with breast and cervical cancers contributing to 40% of female cancer cases. On the other hand, oral, lung, and prostate cancers are more prevalent among men, primarily driven by tobacco habits, which account for 40% of preventable cancers.
This raises questions about potential reasons behind the observed disparities. One possibility is that women are diagnosed earlier thanks to dedicated awareness campaigns that facilitate timely screenings. Consequently, treatment outcomes tend to be favorable for women, resulting in lower mortality rates.
Conversely, men are often less proactive in seeking medical attention and preventive care. This trend is exacerbated by lifestyle factors, including significant tobacco and alcohol use, which enhance the aggressiveness of their cancers, leading to worse outcomes.
Ravi Mehrotra, a cancer specialist in India, emphasized this gender gap, mentioning that increased focus on women's health is beneficial in terms of early detection but can be a double-edged sword, leaving men's health issues less addressed.
Additionally, the risks differ across India's diverse regions, with northeastern areas showing higher lifetime cancer risks related to lifestyle factors. For instance, tobacco prevalence in these areas significantly influences the cancer landscape.
In summary, India's breast cancer and overall cancer statistics illustrate a transition phase with an urgent need for improved cancer prevention strategies, early diagnosis initiatives, and awareness campaigns targeted at both genders to address the growing complexity of cancer cases in the country.
