Hyderabad has emerged as India’s breast cancer capital with the highest age-adjusted incidence rate of 54.0 per 100,000 women, followed closely by Bengaluru at 46.7 per 100,000, according to a study by the National Cancer Registry Programme published in JAMA Open Network.
The comprehensive analysis reveals that South Indian metropolitan cities are not only facing an overall cancer crisis but are also experiencing distinct type-specific cancer epidemics that demand immediate targeted interventions.
The study, covering 43 population-based cancer registries (PBCR) across India from 2015-2019, shows that among the top six regions with the highest breast cancer rates nationally, four are from South India, including Chennai, recording 45.4 per 100,000 women, and Kerala’s Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram showing rates of 42.2 and 40.7 per 100,00,0, respectively.
This pattern establishes South India, particularly its urban centers, as the epicenter of India’s breast cancer epidemic.
Breast cancer is projected to affect 238,085 women nationally in 2024, making it the most common cancer among Indian women.
The data shows breast cancer is more dominant in South Indian metros, unlike other regions where other cancers prevail, pointing to unique local risk factors driving its rise.
source: https://thesouthfirst.com/