On National Cancer Awareness Day on Thursday, health experts said that the incidence of lung, bladder, breast, prostate and blood cancers is increasing due to the increase in carcinogens in the air.
National Cancer Awareness Day is observed in India every year on 7 November to raise awareness about the growing burden of cancer in the country and inspire action for prevention, early detection and treatment.
India is home to more than 1.4 billion people. Changes in lifestyle, tobacco use, poor dietary habits, and insufficient physical activity are rapidly increasing cancer cases.
According to Ministry of Health estimates, with approximately 800,000 new cancer cases expected each year, tobacco-related cancers account for 35-50 percent of all cancers in men and 17 percent in women.
“Cancer rates are increasing in India and the annual incidence rate has increased. Currently, more than 14 lakh new cancer patients are registered in India every year, and about 9 lakh people die from it every year,” said Dr. Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, AIIMS, Delhi. BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital. ,
He attributed the increase to “tobacco, alcohol use, infections such as HPV, hepatitis virus and Helicobacter pylori, lifestyle changes, environmental factors, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle”.
Although lifestyle factors play a major role, changes in the environment – particularly increasing air pollution – are also important.
“India’s high levels of air pollution, particularly PM2.5 exposure, is associated with increased rates of lung cancer, including among non-smoking cases. Contamination of water and soil from industrial pollutants increases the risk of various cancers, affecting communities in industrial areas,” Shankar said.
Air quality in Delhi-NCR remained alarmingly poor on Thursday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 362.
Human and experimental animal studies as well as mechanistic support for a causal relationship between outdoor (ambient) air pollution, particularly PM 2.5 in outdoor air, with the incidence and mortality of lung cancer and breast cancer. There are also proofs.
“It carries risk for other cancer types, such as bladder cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia (blood cancer) but in limited numbers. Outdoor air pollution may also be associated with poorer cancer survival, although more research is needed,” Shankar said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies outdoor air pollution as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that it causes cancer in humans.
Air pollution in India is mainly caused by vehicles, industrial activities, and biomass burning.
These pollutants include carcinogenic substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), said Dr Sajjan Rajpurohit, senior director – medical oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital. Prolonged exposure to these substances can cause cellular mutations and the development of cancer.
“Particulate matter (PM2.5) is also one of the most harmful components of air pollution. Small particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream,” said Rajpurohit.
The health expert noted that children, the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Their increased susceptibility may lead to higher cancer rates in these groups, exacerbating a public health crisis.
Shankar called for reducing PM-2.5 exposure as well as leading a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
Dr. Sachin Trivedi, Director- Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, also emphasized the need for early detection for better treatment outcomes.
He called for “regular screening for breast, lung, colorectal and oral cancers to help manage cancer effectively”.
