Bengaluru: During the recent Lok Sabha session, data presented by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, S. P. Singh Baghel, has revealed a concerning trend in Karnataka. The state is experiencing a continuous rise in cancer cases.
The data indicates that the estimated incidence of cancer cases in Karnataka was 85,968 in 2020, which increased to 88,126 in 2021, and further escalated to 90,349 in 2022. Distressingly, cancer-related mortality has also seen an upward trend over the past three years. In 2020, there were 47,113 reported deaths, followed by 48,290 in 2021, and 49,516 in 2022.
In terms of both cancer cases and cancer mortality, Karnataka is currently ranked second in the southern region, behind Tamil Nadu.
The bordering states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, especially Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi, have been identified by experts as having a higher frequency of cancer cases and mortality. Former Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology director Dr.. Ramachandra blames this tendency to delayed screening and diagnosis, which has led to a rise in mortality.
The rise in cancer cases has been attributed to a number of factors, including cigarette use, smoking, drinking, obesity, and cancer, with obesity being singled out as a major risk factor. While cervical cancer cases have decreased, breast and gastrointestinal cancer cases have exhibited an upward tendency.
The executive chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Dr. Ajai Kumar, also calls attention to the disturbing shift in cancer cases that are now largely affecting people between the ages of 45 and 60, as opposed to the traditional belief that cancer primarily impacted people between the ages of 70 and 80.
Furthermore, pollution, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and tobacco consumption have been implicated in the rise of cancer cases. The situation calls for prompt attention and necessary measures to address the growing health concern in Karnataka.