The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Data from the Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, an NGO launched by oncologists, indicates a significant increase in cancer cases among younger people in India. Between March 1 and May 15, 20% of callers to the foundation’s helpline seeking a second opinion were below 40 years old.
Of the 1,368 callers, 60% were men, with head and neck cancers being the most prevalent (26%), followed by gastrointestinal cancers (16%), breast cancer (15%), and blood cancers (9%). The majority of calls came from Hyderabad, followed by Meerut, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
The foundation’s helpline (93-555-20202) operates from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday, providing free second opinions from leading oncologists via phone or video call. Dr. Ashish Gupta, the Principal Investigator and senior oncologist leading the Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign, emphasized the helpline’s role as a vital support system, receiving hundreds of calls daily.
“This study helps us make a more targeted cancer approach towards treatment and make India ‘Cancer Mukt’. We found head and neck cancer was most prevalent which is nearly entirely preventable by lifestyle modification, vaccinations and screening strategies. Breast and colon cancers have very effective screening strategies for finding cancer in the early stages. Unfortunately as is representative of the population at large in India we found nearly 2/3rds of cancers were detected late likely due to low adoption of proper screening,” Dr. Gupta said.
The study also highlighted that 27% of cancer cases in India are diagnosed in stages 1 and 2, while 63% are detected in stages 3 or 4. The most common inquiries from patients were for a second opinion to verify their treatment and to check for the latest available treatments or medicines. Education on cancer stages and preventive measures for family members were also frequently discussed.
The Cancer Mukt Bharat campaign aims to reduce cancer incidence through education and early detection. The study found that 67% of the cancer patients contacting the foundation were receiving treatment from private hospitals, while 33% were treated at government hospitals.
Dr. Gupta pointed to lifestyle factors such as rising obesity rates, dietary changes, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, and sedentary lifestyles as contributors to higher cancer rates. He stressed the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and avoiding tobacco and alcohol to reduce cancer risk in younger generations.
The helpline number offers free opinions from leading oncologists, providing essential guidance to patients navigating cancer diagnosis and treatment complexities.