National Cancer Awareness Day is observed on November 7 every year in India. It was first announced in 2014 by then Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan. The main purpose for putting this day out in the public was to generate awareness about detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer.
India is the first country from all over the globe to recognize National Cancer Awareness Day.
The date was selected to celebrate the birth anniversary of Nobel-Prize winning scientist Marie Curie, whose groundbreaking discovery of radioactivity paved the way for modern cancer treatment.
In 2022, India recorded approximately 1.46 million new cancer cases, with a crude incidence rate of about 100 cases per 100,000 people.
Of these cases, around 712,000 were reported in men and 749,000 in women.
By 2025, India is expected to see a 12.8% increase in cancer cases compared to 2020, reaching nearly 1.57 million.
The lifetime risk of developing cancer in India is estimated to be 1 in 9 people.
MedBound Times connected with Dr. Sumanth Kumar Mallupattu, who is a Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist & Hemato Oncologist working at Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad, Telangana.
One of the first concerns people have when they hear the word cancer is that it’s a death sentence. Dr. Sumanth clarifies:
“Cancer means death — wherein, definitely, in recent days, it's like almost treating a patient of hypertension or diabetes, even in stage 4 cancers, though many cancers are not curable, but it is always treatable.”
He explained that advanced cancer care now includes treatments like molecular therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy which help extend survival and improve quality of life. According to him:
“So it's like people with cancer should not lose hope.”
Contrary to popular belief, not all cancer cases involve pain. Dr. Sumanth says:
“Many patients who present with us may not experience pain at all… Even during treatment also, many of the treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, will not have any pain for the patient.”
The idea that cancer will return even after treatment is a major fear among patients. Setting the record straight, Dr. Sumanth states:
“It’s not like that, especially in stage 1, 2, 3 — those are all curable stages.”
Post-surgery treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy can bring recurrence risks down significantly:
“After doing surgery, we give some form of either chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy to decrease the chance of coming back.”
From turmeric to alkaline diets, many claim to have anti-cancer benefits. But in reality, “There is no food or supplement that can cure cancer,” he said.
Addressing the genetic myth, he said:
“Not always cancer runs in families. Sometimes it can happen randomly to anyone.”
Only 5-10% of cancers are linked to family history. Still, individuals should consult genetic specialists if cancer runs in the family to gauge their risk.
Cancer is no longer restricted to older age groups. Dr. Sumanth noted:
“Nowadays we are seeing even young people and young adults or children are also getting cancer.” He emphasizes that early symptoms shouldn’t be ignored, regardless of age.
There is a belief that surgical intervention or biopsy may spread cancer. Dr. Sumanth said, "It is a myth. Biopsies are very safe procedure, the tumor cells will not spread to any other areas.”
Surgery is, in fact, a primary step in curing early-stage cancer.
Busting one of the most pervasive myths, Dr. Sumanth said:
“It’s a myth that cancer is contagious, whoever suffers from cancer, they can happily mingle with their family members.”
Cancer is not infectious and cannot spread through touch, food, or proximity.
As Dr. Sumanth reminds us:
“Cancer is not always fatal, around 65-75% of the times, we can cure the cancer, especially if they are detected in early stages.”
This National Cancer Awareness Day, let’s remember: early detection, accurate information, and timely treatment save lives.
When is National Cancer Awareness Day in India?
It is observed every year on November 7 to raise awareness about cancer prevention and treatment.
Can young people get cancer?
Yes. Increasingly, oncologists report cancer in young adults and even children, emphasizing regular screening.
Is cancer always hereditary?
Only about 5–10% of cancers are hereditary. Most occur due to random mutations.
Are superfoods effective against cancer?
No specific food or supplement can cure cancer. A balanced diet supports treatment but doesn’t replace it.
Reference:
1. Sathishkumar, Krishnan, Meesha Chaturvedi, Priyanka Das, S. Stephen, and Prashant Mathur. “Cancer Incidence Estimates for 2022 & Projection for 2025: Result from National Cancer Registry Programme, India.” Indian Journal of Medical Research 157, no. 3 (2023) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10231735/
Edited By M Subha Maheswari