At
~6% cancer has been reported as the 3rd largest cause of mortality in India
after cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Although the cancer incidence
rate per million population is relatively smaller in India as compared to the
developed countries like the USA & the UK, it might not present an accurate
picture with limited access to diagnosis and treatment for the majority of the
population.
The
primary cause of this is that almost 90% of comprehensive cancer treatment
centers are in major cities, while ~70% of the population is in rural areas.
The other major issue - limited access to screening and diagnosis - is
primarily because of the low penetration of diagnostic imaging equipment like
CT, MRI, Mammography, PET CT, etc. Due to this, more than 50% of patients are
diagnosed at a relatively advanced stage, with a 5-year survival rate ranging
between a mere 10% to 27%.In this report, we have investigated the current
status of cancers in men and women (oral and lung in men, breast and cervix in
women), with an emphasis on screening, diagnosis, and treatment stages.