Cancer Incidence and Mortality Across 43 Cancer Registries in India

Cancer is a significant global health concern, with India ranking second in Asia and third in the world in terms of cancer incidence. Regular monitoring and updates on cancer statistics are vital for assessing the impact and burden of the disease and the effectiveness of cancer control measures. The incidence of 708 223 cases with 206 457 deaths from 43 population-based cancer registries were included. The lifetime risk of developing cancer in India was 11.0%, while Mizoram in the Northeastern region reported lifetime risks of 21.1% in males and 18.9% in females. The most common cancers were oral, lung, and prostate in males and breast, cervical, and ovarian in females. Among metropolitan cities, Delhi had the highest overall cancer AAIR for males, while Srinagar recorded the highest AAIR for lung cancer (39.5; 95% CI, 35.8-43.2). Oral cancer showed significant increases in 14 population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) among males and 4 PBCRs among females; Ahmedabad Urban had an increase of 4.7% in males and 6.9% in females. The estimated cancer incidence for 2024 was 1 562 099 cases; estimated cancer mortality, 874 404 cases.This cross-sectional study highlighted significant regional disparities in cancer incidence across India and the increasing cancer burden. The findings provide key insights for policymakers to enhance resource allocation and strengthen cancer control strategies nationwide.