How cancer has become a lifestyle-related disease

By Dr Rana Mehta

The menace of non-communicable diseases is fast spreading in the country and today, both the young and old are in the grip of these ailments.

According to The Harvard School of Public Health, the economic burden of these ailments for India will be close to $6.2 trillion for the period 2012-30, a figure that is equivalent to nearly nine times the total health expenditure during the previous 19 years of $710 billion.

At the root of most of these ailments are the changing physical environment and lifestyle choices we increasingly witness. Studies show that over 70 per cent of all cancers are due to environmental reasons and lifestyle related factors are the most important and preventable among these environmental exposures.

Tobacco consumption either as chewing tobacco or smoking tobacco will account for 50 per cent of all Cancers in men. Dietary practices, reproductive and sexual practices etc also account for a large number of cancer cases. 

Many of our lifestyle choices are leading to obesity, which again, is causing cancer in a large section of Indian population. For instance, in the case of both breast cancer and colon cancer, obesity is a risk factor.

Propelled by all these factors, cancer prevalence in India has reached alarming proportions. India has the third highest incidence of cancer worldwide and it is  the second fastest growing non-communicable disease in India.

Over 1.7 million people in the country are suffering from it with almost  million new cases each year,  of which over 0.6 million  patients die annually.

On the brighter side, there has been a marked increase in the awareness level of people, with a growing number of people opting for regular screenings and tests. This has  led to early detection and very often  cure.

However, people need to be aware about the life choices they make, be it their diet or other consumption habits.  

On the medical care front too, there is a need for an overhaul, with cancer cases becoming a more common. Most cancer patients today pay for their treatment on their own capacity, without support from insurance companies.

There are very few Cancer specific policies. Comprehensive cancer care today is limited to metropolitan towns.  This gap in cancer centres needs to be addressed urgently -- it is estimated that 100 additional cancer centres would be required to treat the oncology patients by 2016.

We also see a shift in oncology care seeking behaviour from conventional public and not-for-profit organization to corporate structures and this has fuelled growth for the newer set ups which are foraying in the current market.

Besides medical advancements, innovations in the business models of healthcare delivery will be required to tackle this dreaded disease.

The author of this article, Dr Rana Mehta, is Leader, Healthcare Practice at PwC India. (With inputs from Saurabh Gupta, Principal Consultant, Healthcare at PwC India)

Read more on cancer:

The cruel economics of cancer care

India and the fight against cancer

How affordable technology can abolish cancer