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Is India slowly moving towards a lung cancer epidemic? This question has become a matter of concern for the country today. Earlier, this disease was only found in smokers, but now its cases are increasing rapidly among non-smokers as well. A review of lung cancer cases in Asia in the world-renowned medical journal 'The Lancet' has revealed a shocking fact. The profile of lung cancer patients in India is quite different from that of Western countries. Here, even non-smokers are suffering from lung cancer and their life expectancy can be 10 years less than in Western countries.
According to the study, lung cancer in India is detected at an average age of 54-70 years, while in Western countries it is detected about a decade later. The article, primarily authored by doctors from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, is titled 'Uniqueness of lung cancer in South East Asia'. The article states that lung cancer was the third most common cancer in the region in 2020 (18.5 lakh new cases or 7.8%). However, it is also the leading cause of cancer deaths, causing 16.6 lakh or 10.9% of deaths.
2.2 million new cases
Compared to the global figures, there were 2.2 million new cases (11.6%) and 1.7 million deaths (18%) worldwide. In India, lung cancer causes 72,510 cases (5.8%) and 66,279 deaths (7.8%) every year. Highlighting the 'uniqueness' of Indian patients, Dr Kumar Prabhash from the Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, one of the authors, said more than 50% of our lung cancer patients are non-smokers.
What is the main reason?
The study said that significant risk factors for lung cancer in non-smokers include air pollution (particularly particulate matter PM2.5), exposure to asbestos, chromium, cadmium, arsenic and coal in the office, as well as secondhand smoke in the home. Factors such as genetic susceptibility, hormonal status and pre-existing lung disease may also play a role in the increased incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers.
What is the expert's opinion?
Dr Prabhash further said that lung cancer cases in India are lower than in Western countries. The lung cancer rate in the US is 30 in 1000, while in India it is 6 in 1000. However, given our huge population, even 6% is a large number of patients. He said that another feature of the lung cancer problem in India is the high prevalence of TB. Diagnosis is often delayed as both TB and lung cancer resemble each other. In this regard, the authors say that access to new treatments and drugs is not easy. Most of the treatments have been developed abroad and importing them increases the cost.