National Cancer Day - November 7

Why in News ?

• National Cancer Day is celebrated every year on November 7 in India.
• ​​National Cancer Day was first celebrated in 2014, and was announced by the then Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
• The main reason for celebrating Cancer Awareness Day on November 7 is:
  • This day is the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Madame Curie.
  • She was born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland.
  • Madame Curie made significant contributions to the fight against cancer.
• She and her husband, Pierre Curie, discovered radium and polonium.
• Madame Curie's work played a key role in the development of radiation-based cancer treatment, called radiotherapy.

Objectives of National Cancer Day

• To teach people how to recognize the early symptoms of cancer
• To promote screening through free screening camps
• To create an environment of empathy and support for cancer patients
• To understand cancer as a treatable disease, not a stigma

What is cancer ?

• Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of body cells.
• Under normal circumstances, body cells grow and divide in a controlled manner; however, when a mutation occurs in the genes of these cells, this control is lost.
• As a result of these mutations, cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably and do not follow the normal rules of healthy cells.
• These abnormal cells often aggregate to form a tumor.
• The most dangerous characteristic of cancer is that these cells have the ability to spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes or distant organs; This process is called metastasis.
• When cancer cells spread to different parts of the body, they interfere with normal bodily functions, making the disease life-threatening.

Major Types of Cancer

Cancer types can develop in various parts of the body, but some cancers are more common in men or women:

• In women:
  • The most common types of cancer in women are:
    • Breast cancer – The most common cancer in women, originating in the cells of the breast tissue.
    • Cervical Cancer – It occurs in the cells of the lower part of the uterus (cervix) and is often associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
• In Men:
  • The major types of cancer in men are:
    • Lung Cancer – Mostly linked to smoking or pollution.
    • Oral Cancer – It is more likely to occur due to consumption of tobacco, gutkha, pan masala, or alcohol.
    •  Prostate Cancer – It develops in the prostate gland, which is associated with the male reproductive system, and is often seen in older age groups.

Major Causes of Cancer

Category Causes

 Symptoms

• Sudden weight loss
• Prolonged cough or hoarseness
• Formation of a lump or swelling
• Unusual changes on the skin
• Uncontrolled bleeding or fatigue

Prevention

Latest data:

• Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2022, approximately 20 million new cancer cases will be reported and 9.7 million people will die from the disease globally.
• According to the latest Global Burden of Disease report by The Lancet, while cancer incidence and mortality rates are declining globally, India is witnessing an increase in these cases.
• An estimated 1.5 million new cancer cases and over 1.2 million deaths will be recorded in India in 2023.
  • 1 in every 8 Indians is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime.
• The global cancer incidence rate is projected to decline from 220.6 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 205.1 in 2023 and is projected to reach 192.9 by 2025.
• However, population growth and aging are expected to drive a sharp increase in total cancer cases and deaths by 2050.
• The cancer incidence rate in India is projected to increase from 84.8 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023, while the mortality rate is projected to increase from 71.7 to 86.9 per 100,000 during the same period.
• Globally, approximately 42% of cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, and infections. In India, the share of deaths related to these factors could be as high as 70%.
• The leading causes of cancer deaths in India are breast, lung, esophagus, mouth, cervix, stomach, and colon cancers.

Major Reasons for the Rise in Cancer Cases in India

1. Demographic Changes

• Increasing Aging Population:
  • Increasing life expectancy in India and increasing the number of elderly people in the total population are rapidly increasing the cancer-vulnerable population.
  • Longer lifespans have also led to an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

2. Impact of Unhealthy Lifestyles

• Tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption are major risk factors in India.
• ​​These habits increase the risk of lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, and liver cancer.

3. Shortcomings of the National Health System

• Cancer in India is often diagnosed in the third or fourth stage, reducing the effectiveness of treatment.
• Lack of oncologists (cancer specialists), radiotherapy machines, and adequate health infrastructure impacts treatment.
• Due to high health expenditure, many patients delay or abandon treatment midway, leading to increased mortality.

4. Environmental and Industrial Factors

• Outdoor air pollution (PM2.5), which is classified as a Class I carcinogen by the WHO, is a major cause of lung cancer.
• Indoor air pollution from solid fuels and industrial and chemical pollution also increases the risk of cancer.

5. Financial difficulties associated with treatment

• The high cost of cancer treatments (such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) poses a significant financial burden for poor and middle-class families.
• This limits access to treatment and many patients delay or abandon treatment, increasing both disease severity and mortality.

6. Rise in Infection-Related Cancers

• Some types of cancer in India are also related to infections, such as:
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) – cervical cancer
  • Hepatitis B and C viruses – liver cancer
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – stomach cancer
• The prevalence of these infections has led to a significant increase in infection-related cancer cases.

Cancer Prevention Efforts in India:

• Union Budget 2025-26: Prioritizing Cancer Care
• A total of ₹99,858.56 crore has been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, of which ₹95,957.87 crore has been earmarked for the Department of Health and Family Welfare and ₹3,900.69 crore for the Department of Health Research.
• The Union Budget 2025-26 underscores the Government of India's commitment to scaling up cancer care through several key initiatives:
• Day Care Cancer Centers: The government plans to establish Day Care Cancer Centers in all district hospitals over the next three years, with a target of establishing 200 centers by 2025-26.

Holistic Cancer Control: A Policy-Driven Approach

1. NPCDCS

Launched under the National Health Mission, this program focuses on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer.

Key components:

• Community-level oral, breast, and cervical cancer screening
• Early detection and public awareness
• Establishment of Tertiary Cancer Centers (TCCs) and State Cancer Institutes (SCIs)

2. Strengthening Tertiary Cancer Care

To decentralize cancer treatment facilities across states:

• 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs)
• 20 Tertiary Cancer Centers (TCCCs)
• Leading institutions: Jhajjar (National Cancer Institute) and Kolkata (Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute)

3. Ayushman Bharat Yojana (2018)

Provides universal health coverage to rural and vulnerable groups.

• Access to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery
• Target to initiate treatment within 30 days

4. Health Minister Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)

Financial assistance ranging from ₹5–15 lakh to patients below the poverty line.

• Treatment at 27 regional cancer centers
• Revolving fund of ₹50 lakh for each center
• Relief scheme for underprivileged patients, operational since 2009

5. National Cancer Grid (NCG)

Established in 2012; 287 member institutions, the world's largest cancer network.

• Over 7.5 lakh patients treated annually
• Affordable, standardized cancer care in collaboration with Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY
• Collaboration with electronic health records and NDHM

Cancer Research and Innovation

1. NexCAR19 (2024)

India's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy—developed by IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre, and ImmunoACT.

• Effective, affordable treatment for blood cancers
• Steps towards reducing import dependence and self-reliance

2. Quad Cancer Moonshot (2024)

An initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in partnership with India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—focusing on screening, vaccination, research, and global collaboration.

3. ACTREC Expansion (2025)

A branch of the Tata Memorial Centre—a state-of-the-art infrastructure for treatment, research, and education, strengthening India's leadership in oncology.