NEW DELHI: Oral cancer in men, driven largely by persistent tobacco use, is on the rise in India, which is among several G20 countries showing an increasing trend, a recent global analysis by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said.
The study by the ICMR-National Institute of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology (ICMR-NINE), based on Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 data across 11 countries, also noted that while cervical cancer cases are declining in India, the overall disease burden remains high.
Published in the Journal of Public Health, the analysis found that India continues to report a high number of breast cancer cases, while trends vary across countries depending on levels of development and healthcare access.
Among the 10 other G20 countries analysed - Argentina, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Turkey and the US - India recorded an annual increase of about 1.20 per cent in oral cancer cases among men. China (1.10 per cent), Canada (0.94 per cent) and the US (0.57 per cent) also reported rising trends.
Speaking with this paper, Dr Prashant Mathur, Director, ICMR-NINE, said oral cancer remains a serious and persistent public health problem in India, particularly among men.
“The reason is mainly persistent tobacco use, especially smokeless forms such as gutka, paan and khaini, along with alcohol consumption and chewing of betel nut,” he said, adding that such habits are often initiated early and are deeply embedded in social practices.
The study noted that a majority of oral cancer cases in India are diagnosed at advanced stages, underlining the need for early detection to avoid costly and intensive treatment.
Among women, South Korea recorded the steepest rise in oral cancer incidence (2.17 per cent per year), followed by France (1.93 per cent) and Canada (0.54 per cent).
Breast cancer remains the leading cancer among women in all 11 countries analysed. South Korea showed the fastest rise in incidence (5.07 per cent per year), followed by Turkey (2.42 per cent), China (2.03 per cent), India (1.83 per cent) and Italy (1.04 per cent).
On cervical cancer, China recorded a sharp increase of 6.11 per cent per year. India, however, showed a decline of -4.19 per cent annually, followed by South Korea (-0.20 per cent), Argentina (-1.62 per cent) and the US (-1.17 per cent). Breast and cervical cancers remain the two most common cancers among women in India.
Dr Mathur said India has seen a steady decline in cervical cancer in recent decades. “With improvements in screening and HPV vaccination, further declines are expected,” he said, adding that government initiatives have strengthened efforts to contain the rising cancer burden.
Globally, cancer has emerged as a widespread health challenge. While high-income countries are witnessing stabilisation or decline in incidence and mortality due to better screening, early detection and treatment, disparities persist.
According to ICMR-NINE estimates, India recorded 1.56 million new cancer cases and 874,404 deaths in 2024, and is projected to see 2.46 million cases annually by 2045 if current trends continue. Oral cancer alone is expected to account for over 113,000 new cases among men in 2024. Globally, nearly 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths were reported in 2022, according to GLOBOCAN.