India recorded approximately 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9.3 lakh deaths in 2019, emerging as the second-highest contributor to cancer-related fatalities in Asia for that year, as per a recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal. The research, examining 29 cancers in 49 Asian countries from 1990 to 2019, revealed that India, China, and Japan were the top three nations in Asia in terms of new cases and deaths, with a total of 94 lakh new cases and 56 lakh deaths in 2019. China led with 48 lakh new cases and 27 lakh deaths, while Japan reported 9 lakh new cases and 4.4 lakh deaths.
The study highlighted tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer as the leading cancer in Asia, causing an estimated 13 lakh cases and 12 lakh deaths. Cervical cancer ranked second or among the top 5 cancers among women in several Asian countries. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and ambient particulate matter pollution remained dominant risk factors for cancer in the region. Rising cancer burden due to increasing air pollution, driven by industry-led economic growth and urbanization, raised concerns, with India featuring among the top 10 countries with high PM2.5 levels. Smokeless tobacco use in South Asian countries, including India, was identified as a significant public health concern, contributing to oral cancer. The study emphasized the importance of oncologic infrastructure, timely screening, and treatment accessibility in low- and medium-income countries to improve cancer outcomes.
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