A study by Cancer Free India Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit, shows that among cancer patients under 40, 60 per cent were men, while 40 per cent were women.
Head and neck cancer (26 percent) was the most prevalent, followed by gastrointestinal cancers such as colon, stomach and liver (16 percent). Breast cancer is 15 percent and blood cancer is 9 percent.
Principal investigator and senior oncologist Ashish Gupta, who is leading the Cancer Free India campaign in India, attributed the rise in cancer among young adults to poor lifestyle.
"Increasing rates of obesity in our country, changes in dietary habits, especially increased consumption of ultra-processed food, and sedentary lifestyle are also associated with higher cancer rates," Ashish said.
"To prevent the risk of cancer in the younger generation, we should adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid consumption of tobacco and alcohol," he said.
The study also revealed that 27 per cent of cases diagnosed in India were in stage 1 and 2 cancer while 63 per cent were stage 3 or 4 cancer.
“About two-thirds of cancers are detected late, possibly due to low adoption or appropriate screening,” Ashish said.
The study was conducted on 1,368 cancer patients across India who called the foundation's cancer helpline number between March 1 and May 15.
Head and neck cancer (26 percent) was the most prevalent, followed by gastrointestinal cancers such as colon, stomach and liver (16 percent). Breast cancer is 15 percent and blood cancer is 9 percent.
Principal investigator and senior oncologist Ashish Gupta, who is leading the Cancer Free India campaign in India, attributed the rise in cancer among young adults to poor lifestyle.
"Increasing rates of obesity in our country, changes in dietary habits, especially increased consumption of ultra-processed food, and sedentary lifestyle are also associated with higher cancer rates," Ashish said.
"To prevent the risk of cancer in the younger generation, we should adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid consumption of tobacco and alcohol," he said.
The study also revealed that 27 per cent of cases diagnosed in India were in stage 1 and 2 cancer while 63 per cent were stage 3 or 4 cancer.
“About two-thirds of cancers are detected late, possibly due to low adoption or appropriate screening,” Ashish said.
The study was conducted on 1,368 cancer patients across India who called the foundation's cancer helpline number between March 1 and May 15.
