Delhi records highest cancer rate among men: Study

Delhi has the highest overall cancer incidence among men in metropolitan cities, while Srinagar reports the highest rate of lung cancer, according to a new study.

The most common cancers were oral, lung and prostate among men, and breast, cervical and ovarian among women. The study estimated the lifetime risk of developing cancer in India at 11 per cent.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar, the incidence of breast cancer is 44.1 per 1,00,000 population, followed by Srinagar (29.6) and Patiala (25). The highest incidence of cervical cancer was reported in Aizawl (27.1), while Delhi and Patiala recorded 11.5 and 9 per 1,00,000 population, respectively.

Prostate cancer incidence was also high in Srinagar and Delhi (12.7). Mouth cancer was most common in several regions: western India (Ahmedabad Urban, Bhopal, Nagpur and Wardha), central India (Barshi Rural, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Beed, Pune, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri), and northern India (Prayagraj and Varanasi).

“As tobacco and alcohol use are major risk factors, it is vital to promote widespread education about their harmful effects,” the study noted.

The incidence of oral cancer among men was highest in Ahmedabad Urban (33.6), followed by Delhi (19.4), Chandigarh (9) and Patiala (7.7). Lung cancer incidence among men was highest in Srinagar (39.5) and Chandigarh (11.7). Among women, Aizawl reported the highest lung cancer cases.

Mizoram recorded the highest lifetime risk of cancer — 21.1 per cent in men and 18.9 per cent in women — well above the national average.

The study analysed data from 2015-2019, covering 7.08 lakh cancer cases and 2.06 lakh deaths.

Researchers found that regions such as Aizawl, East Khasi Hills, Papumpare, Kamrup Urban and Mizoram consistently reported the country’s highest cancer incidence rates.

The research was led by the National Cancer Registry Programme Investigator Group, comprising scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tata Memorial Centre and Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS Delhi. The group analysed more than seven lakh cancer cases and over two lakh deaths using data from 43 population-based cancer registries across India.