“7 November: Where Science Meets Public Health — India’s National Cancer Awareness Day”

Every 7 November, India marks National Cancer Awareness Day — chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of Marie Curie (7 Nov 1867), whose discoveries in radioactivity underpin modern radiation oncology and diagnostic science. The day is an annual prompt for clinicians, public-health professionals and policy-makers to intensify prevention, expand early detection and reduce inequities in cancer care.

Why 7 November?
Marie Curie (born 7 November 1867) won Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry for discoveries that shaped diagnostic radiology and radiation therapy — tools central to modern oncology. Commemorating her birthday aligns scientific legacy with public awareness and cancer-control advocacy.

The most recent national burden and projections (through 2024–2025)
National-level estimates and recent registry analyses show a continued and substantial cancer burden in India. Using population-based registry data and modelling, the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) estimated ≈1.46 million new cancer cases in 2022 and projected an increase to ≈1.57 million cases by 2025. PMC

A large multi-registry analysis using data from 43 population-based cancer registries reported an estimated 1,562,099 new cancer cases in 2024 and ≈874,404 cancer deaths, highlighting both the growing absolute numbers and the considerable mortality burden. That cross-registry study also reports a national lifetime risk of cancer of about 11.0%, with striking pockets of higher lifetime risk in certain Northeastern registries. PMC+1

Internationally, GLOBOCAN and the IARC Global Cancer Observatory present global context (millions of cases annually) and country-level comparisons that remain useful for benchmarking national trends. Global Cancer Observatory+1

Regional heterogeneity — where the burden concentrates
Data from multiple PBCRs show large inter-state and intra-state variation. Some Northeastern registries (for example, Aizawl district, Mizoram) report the highest age-adjusted incidence rates in the country and substantially higher lifetime risks compared with the national average; other states (Kerala, some urban registries) show high incidence of breast and thyroid cancers, while oral and tobacco-related cancers concentrate in other regions. These differences reflect heterogeneous exposures to risk factors (tobacco — smoked and smokeless, betel quid, alcohol), demographic differences, environmental exposures and differences in diagnostic/registry coverage. JAMA Network+1

Why numbers are rising: drivers and ascertainment
The rising absolute counts are driven by demographic change (population growth and ageing) and by risk-factor shifts — increasing urbanization, dietary change and rising obesity, persistent tobacco use (including smokeless forms), and alcohol use. Improved diagnostic services and expanding registry coverage also increase the number of detected cases. Accurate mortality and incidence estimation remains dependent on strengthening PBCRs and vital-registration systems. PMC+1

Government response: programmes, networks & financial protection
India’s public-health architecture for cancer control includes multiple components:

• National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP / ICMR-NCDIR) — generates PBCR data, periodic national estimates and state fact-sheets used for planning. Continued expansion of PBCR coverage and data quality improvements are explicit priorities. ncdirindia.org+1

• NPCDCS (National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD & Stroke) — integrates screening (cervical, breast, oral) into primary health care and supports district-level NCD cells to strengthen early detection and referral pathways. ncdirindia.org

• National Cancer Grid (NCG) — a network of tertiary centres working on clinical standards, multi-centre training, tele-oncology linkages and guideline harmonization to reduce variation in care quality. PMC

• Health financing measures (Ayushman Bharat/PM-JAY and state schemes) — have expanded financial protection for cancer care but gaps in out-of-pocket costs and access to diagnostics/therapies persist across states. ncdirindia.org

• HPV vaccine policy momentum — technical deliberations, pilot implementations and advocacy have accelerated over recent years; national-scale phased introduction has been discussed and pilot/state rollouts have been reported, Tamil Nadu government has announced state-wide roll-out out but we are still far from nationwide roll-out. ijmpo.org+1

Key gaps: data, access and workforce
Principal challenges remain: incomplete registry coverage (geographic gaps and under-ascertainment), uneven distribution of radiotherapy and pathology services, late stage at presentation for many cancers, and socio-economic and geographic barriers to timely treatment. Strengthening PBCR footprint, vital registration (cause-of-death capture), and health-system capacity are critical to convert national commitments into mortality reductions. ncdirindia.org+1

Action priorities for National Cancer Awareness Day — evidence-based, measurable steps

1. Strengthen tobacco control (smoked and smokeless) and expand cessation services integrated into primary care. (Tobacco remains the dominant preventable risk for several common cancers.) ncdirindia.org
2. Scale up organised approaches to screening and early diagnosis (NPCDCS implementation at PHC level, clear referral pathways to district hospitals for diagnostics). ncdirindia.org
3. Accelerate and monitor equitable HPV vaccination rollout with clear surveillance metrics and communication strategies to counter misinformation. ijmpo.org
4. Expand PBCR coverage and vital-registration quality to improve planning and target interventions where they are most needed. PMC+1
5. Invest in human resources and infrastructure (radiotherapy units, pathology, oncology training) and use the National Cancer Grid to extend expertise to underserved regions. PMC+1

National Cancer Awareness Day is both symbolic (honouring Marie Curie’s legacy) and practical: it should be a moment to translate the newest registry evidence into state-level action plans, intensify prevention, close inequities in screening and treatment access, and strengthen the data platforms that underpin policy. With targeted, data-driven actions, many of the country’s cancer deaths are preventable or can be delayed by earlier diagnosis and timely treatment.

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Selected peer-reviewed & official references (Vancouver style)

1. Sathishkumar K, Chaturvedi M, Das P, Stephen S, Mathur P, et al. Cancer incidence estimates for 2022 & projection for 2025: result from National Cancer Registry Programme, India. Indian J Med Res. 2023;156(4–5):598–607. PMC
2. Mathur P, Prakash B, et al. Cancer incidence and mortality across 43 cancer registries in India: patterns, regional variation, and estimates for 2024. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;[article]. PMC+1
3. International Agency for Research on Cancer. GLOBOCAN / Global Cancer Observatory — India fact sheet. Lyon: IARC; 2022 (online updates 2024–2025). Global Cancer Observatory+1
4. ICMR-NCDIR. Annual/technical reports and PBCR fact sheets (NCDIR / NCRP). Bengaluru: National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research (ICMR-NCDIR); 2023–2025. ncdirindia.org
5. Kulothungan V, Ramamoorthy T, Sathishkumar K, Mohan R, Tomy N, Miller GJ, Mathur P. Burden of cancers in India — estimates of cancer crude incidence, YLLs, YLDs and DALYs for 2021 and projections for 2025 based on NCRP. BMC Cancer. 2022. ncdirindia.org
6. National Cancer Grid (NCG). Mandate and initiatives — standardization, training and tele-oncology (Tata Memorial Centre / NCG web materials). PMC
7. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. NPCDCS operational guidelines and progress reports; Ayushman Bharat documentation on cancer coverage. New Delhi: MoHFW; 2018–2024. ncdirindia.org
8. Vemula S, et al. (analysis/commentary) Regional cancer trends and policy implications — Indian J Med & Paediatr Oncol / IJMPO 2025. ijmpo.org
9. Selected news and state reports summarizing registry findings and state-level burden (for local context and recent reporting). The Times of India+1