Cancer is a very serious disease, and people get scared the moment they hear its name. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, India recorded nearly 1.41 million new cases and 920,000 deaths. The biggest reason for this is late detection of the disease. Despite great advances in medical science, most patients are diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage, i.e. stage three or four (late cancer detection). Statistics also show that there is a large gap between cancer detection and a patient’s chance of survival.
In this context, it is very important to understand why cancer is not detected in its early stages. To know more, we spoke to Dr. Prashant Mehta (Medical Oncologist, Hemato-Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad). Let’s see what he has to say.
A look at the statistics
According to ICMR’s National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP):
60% of cervical cancer and 57% of breast cancer cases are detected too late.
More than 65% of head and neck cancer cases reach the hospital in the late stages.
In 45-48% of lung cancer cases, by the time the disease is detected, it has spread to other parts of the body.
Why is there a delay in cancer detection?
Lack of awareness and screening – People lack awareness to recognize the early symptoms of cancer. The practice of routine checkup or screening has not yet developed in India. Screening can detect cancer before symptoms appear, which is currently happening at a very low level.
Social fear and hesitation – Even today, cancer is seen as a death sentence in society. Due to fear, people hesitate to go to the doctor, even if they feel a lump or see any abnormal change. Hesitation to talk about symptoms, especially in women with breast or cervical cancer, is a major barrier. Common symptoms – Early symptoms of cancer, such as mild pain, cough, weight loss, or indigestion, are very common. People often mistake these for minor problems and try to treat them with home remedies or over-the-counter medications, wasting valuable time. Medical system and economic challenges – Difficulties in the diagnostic process and delays in the referral system are also reasons for this. Often, correct diagnosis is not possible in primary healthcare centres. Additionally, due to the high cost of testing and lack of access to specialists, patients are unable to receive timely treatment.
Misinformation – Due to misinformation on the internet or from unqualified doctors, people waste time in other treatments instead of getting proper medical care, which gives the cancer a chance to progress.
Therefore, for better and more successful cancer treatment, early detection, awareness, large-scale screening, faster diagnostic procedures, and lower costs are essential, as cancers detected at early stages are often curable.
