Half cancers found after spreading to other organs: Study

CANCERS OF THE MOUTH AND BREAST ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR MEN AND WOMEN, ACCORDING TO THE ICMR STUDY

- Rhythma Kaul

NEW DELHI: Nearly 50% of lung cancers in men and 55.5% in women are diagnosed when the cancer has spread to other organs, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Cancer Registry Programme.

The findings underscore what experts say is a lack of adequate awareness on cancer screening, which in itself could help catch malignancies in time and help people beat the disease.

"Among women, 54.7% cancers of the breast, 62.2% of cervix, and 72.3% of mouth get diagnosed when the cancer has spread to adjacent organs. 70.3% of mouth in men get diagnosed when they have spread to adjacent organs," showed the data collated under the programme, which HT has accessed.

Cancers of the breast and cervix are leading cancers among women in India.

Among men, the most common of cancers is in the lungs.

Of these, cancers of the mouth and breast are the leading cause of death for men and women, respectively.