Cancers of oral cavity and lungs in males and cervix and breast in females account for over 50% of all cancer deaths in India.
The top five cancers in men and women account for 47.2% of all cancers; these cancers can be prevented, screened for and/or detected early and treated at an early stage [10]. This could significantly reduce the death rate from these cancers.
| Men | Women | |
| 1 | LIP,ORAL CAVITY | BREAST |
| 2 | LUNG | CERVIX |
| 3 | STOMACH | COLORECTUM |
| 4 | COLORECTUM | OVARY |
| 5 | PHARYNX | LIP,ORAL CAVITY |
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India in women accounting for 22.86% of all cancer cases in women and 12% of all cancer cases in both men and women.
Globocan 2012 data:
Median age: 38 years (age 21–67 years).
Rural women are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer as compared to their urban counterparts.
Cervical cancer is less common in Muslim than in Hindu women.
Cervical cancer is the third largest cause of cancer mortality in India accounting for nearly 10% of all cancer related deaths in the
country.
Survival rate
The relative five year survival averages to 48.7%.
Length of survival depends on the cancer stage at the time of diagnosis.
The survival chance of a person becomes better if the cervical cancer is diagnosed and treated at earlier stages. Therefore it is
important to avail of cervical cancer screening.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in India and accounts for 27% of all cancers in women.
Globocan 2012 data:
The incidence rates in India begin to rise in the early thirties and peak at ages 50-64 years.
Overall, 1 in 28 women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
In urban areas, 1 in 22 women develops breast cancer during her lifetime as compared to rural areas where 1 in 60 women develops breast cancer in her lifetime.
Oral cancer is the most common cancer in India amongst men (11.28% of all cancers), fifth most frequently occurring cancer amongst women (4.3% of all cancers) and the third most frequently occurring cancer in India amongst both men and women.
Globocan 2012 data:
Around 80% of oral cancers are directly attributable to tobacco use.
The mean age of oral cancer is 50 years.
The rates for oral cancer among males are significantly higher than females and these rates increase with age.
Survival rate (5-year)
Patients with early stage oral cancer: 82%
Patients with advanced stages: 27%