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Cancer

According to the latest projections of the WHO, one in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in 15 will lose their lives to it. This WHO report also reveals quite a few alarming cancer statistics about India:

  • 16 million new cases of cancer are registered every year
  • 7,84,800 lose their lives to this condition
  • Six major types of cancer recorded in India are breast cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer.

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What Is Cancer?

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. According to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), currently 10 million new cases of cancer are reported each year worldwide. According to the latest estimates by WHO, one in every 10 Indians in India is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime, and one in 15 deaths may be due to cancer. This WHO report has also revealed some shocking statistics related to cancer in India:


  • Every year, 16 million new cancer cases are registered in India.

  • Approximately 7,84,800 people die due to cancer.

  • The six leading cancers prevalent in India are breast cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer.


What is cancer?


Cancer is an abnormal and dangerous condition in the body. Cancer occurs when cells in the body start growing and dividing abnormally. Our body is made up of trillions of cells. Healthy cells grow and divide according to the needs of the body. As the cells age or get damaged, these cells also die. New cells are formed in their place. When someone has cancer, the cells stop working in this way. Instead of dying, the old and damaged cells remain alive and start forming new cells even when not needed. These extra cells divide uncontrollably, resulting in a tumour. Most cancers are tumours, but blood cancer does not cause tumours. However, not every tumour is cancer. Cancer can develop in any part of the body. Usually, it spreads to nearby tissues. Abnormal and damaged cancer cells reach other parts of the body and start forming new deadly and malignant tumours.

Including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. The symptoms and tests of all these cancers differ from each other. Cancer is mainly treated by chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Cancer Symptoms

Since the symptoms of all cancers are different, everyone must be aware of the signs and symptoms. This awareness can lead to early detection, critical to successful treatment. By being proactive and recognizing these signs, you can take control of your health and potentially save your life. Some common symptoms of cancer are as follows: -


  1. Unexplained weight loss: If your weight starts decreasing rapidly without any reason, then it can be one of the first signs of cancer. People suffering from pancreas, stomach or lung cancer have the problem of weight loss. However, people suffering from other types of cancer can also lose weight.

  2. Extreme fatigue: Feeling tired all day is also one of the critical symptoms of cancer. Fatigue is felt more in the case of leukaemia or colon cancer.

  3. Lump: If a lump or lumps are seen in the skin, it can probably be a cancer symptom. Breast cancer, lymph nodes, soft tissue, and testicular cancer usually cause lumps.

  4. Changes in the skin: If your skin colour has changed to yellow, black or red, it can be a sign of cancer. Also, if there is a change in the colour and size of moles or warts on any part of the body, do not ignore it. Also, note that any wound does not take much time to heal.

  5. Acute pain: Acute pain can usually be an early symptom of bone or testicular cancer, while back pain is a sign of colorectal, pancreatic or ovarian cancer. People who have malignant brain tumours complain of severe headaches.

  6. Changes in bowel movement and bladder function: Constipation, diarrhoea, and blood in the stool can be signs of colorectal cancer. Bleeding with pain while urinating can be the initial symptoms of bladder cancer and prostate cancer.

  7. Swelling in lymph nodes: It is not good if the glands remain swollen for three to four weeks. An increase in the size of lymph nodes is also a sign of cancer.

  8. Anaemia: Anemia causes a massive decrease in red blood cells, which can be a sign of haematological cancers.

Causes Of Cancer

There is no known reason behind why cancer occurs. However, some factors can increase the chances of getting cancer. We have to avoid coming in contact with potential carcinogenic factors to protect ourselves from this fatal condition. However, it is not in our hands to prevent cancer caused by genetic reasons, which is a significant risk factor for cancer. Despite this, those who have a history of cancer in their family should take extra precautions and get screened. This will detect cancer early, and treatment can also be started promptly. Some significant factors that can increase the chances of getting cancer: -


  1. Chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes: Consumption of nicotine present in these things can cause cancer in any part of the body. Smoking tobacco and smoking generally increases the risk of mouth cancer, lung cancer, alimentary tract and pancreatic cancer.

  2. Genes play a significant role in cancer risk. If there's a history of cancer in your family, your chances of developing this disease increase. A faulty gene can also cause cancer. For example, breast cancer, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, etc., can be hereditary. Knowing your family history can help you take the necessary precautions, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

  3. Carcinogens in the environment: Whatever we eat or drink, the air we breathe, there are many such elements or substances present in them, which have the potential to increase the risk of cancer. Compounds like asbestos, benzene, arsenic, and nickel increase the risk of many other cancers besides lung cancer. This information should make us more cautious and attentive to our surroundings, helping us to minimize our exposure to these harmful elements.

  4. Foods: Nowadays, most fruits and vegetables are contaminated with pesticides, the consumption of which has undesirable effects on the body. Reheated food, overcooked food, and reheated oil become carcinogenic. Polluted water from industrial waste is also very harmful as it contains many heavy minerals.

  5. Virus: Hepatitis B and C viruses are responsible for up to 50 per cent of liver cancer, while the Human Papillomavirus is responsible for cervical cancer in 99.9% of cases. Also, radiation and sun exposure increase the risk of cancer to a great extent.

Stages Of Cancer

Most cancers cause tumours and can be divided into five stages. These stages indicate how advanced your cancer is. Understanding these stages can help you and your healthcare team make informed decisions about your treatment.


  1. Stage 0: This indicates that you do not have cancer. However, some abnormal cells are present in the body, which can develop into cancer.

  2. First stage (Stage I): At this stage, the tumour is small, and cancer cells spread only to one area.

  3. Second and third stages (Stage II and III): In the first and second stages, the size of the tumour increases, and cancer cells also start spreading to nearby organs and lymph nodes.

  4. Fourth stage (Stage IV): This is the last and most hazardous stage of cancer, which is also called metastatic cancer. In this stage, cancer starts spreading to other parts of the body.


Cancer cure


Doctors try to detect cancer by looking at physical symptoms and signs. A physical examination is done after looking at your medical history. Urine, blood or stool samples are taken for testing. If cancer is suspected, you may have to undergo X-ray, computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound and fibre-optic endoscopy tests. Through all these tools, doctors can quickly know about the location and size of the tumour. Whether someone has cancer or not is easily known through biopsy. In a biopsy, tissue samples are taken for examination. If the biopsy results are positive, then many other tests are also done to detect the spread of cancer.

Cancer Treatment

The doctor can decide the treatment option based on the type, location or stage of cancer. Generally, cancer treatment mainly includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplants.


  1. Surgery: Doctors use surgery to remove cancer tumours, tissues, lymph nodes, or any other cancer-affected area. Sometimes, doctors also perform surgery to determine the severity of the disease. If cancer has not spread to different parts of the body, surgery is the best option for treatment.

  2. Chemotherapy: It is done in several stages. In this process, cancer cells are destroyed through drugs. However, this method of treatment is excruciating for some people. It also has many side effects, which mainly include hair loss. Medicines are delivered by eating as well as through injection in the veins.

  3. Radiation therapy: Radiation directly affects cancer cells and prevents them from growing again. In this process, an attempt is made to destroy cancer cells using high-energy particles or waves. Some people are treated with only radiation therapy, while some are given radiation therapy along with surgery and chemotherapy.

  4. Immunotherapy: It enables your immune system to fight cancer cells.

  5. Hormone therapy: This therapy treats cancers that are affected by hormones. Hormone therapy improves breast and prostate cancer to a great extent.

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