Top 5 cancers on the rise among Indian men
Cancer remains one of India's most significant health challenges, with a growing number of men affected by various types of the disease. In 2022, nearly 6.9 lakh new cancer cases were diagnosed in men across the country, a troubling statistic that highlights the increasing prevalence.
Factors such as lifestyle changes, environmental influences, and genetic predispositions are contributing to this rise in cases. Most of these cancers often go undiagnosed until they reach advanced stages, making early detection and prevention more critical than ever.
This Men's Health Week, understand the top five cancers affecting Indian men, including key risk factors, symptoms to watch for, and the importance of early detection and prevention in improving outcomes.
1. Oral Cavity Cancer
Oral cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in India, primarily driven by the widespread use of tobacco in various forms, including smoking, chewing, gutka, and pan masala. Alcohol consumption is another significant risk factor, with the combined use of tobacco and alcohol markedly increasing the risk. Other contributing factors include poor oral hygiene and chronic irritation from sharp or broken teeth.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Grow and build next-gen AI skills with BITS Pilani.
BITS Pilani WILP
Apply Now
Undo
What to Look For: Be aware of any persistent mouth sores, swelling in the mouth and neck, white patches (leukoplakia), or red patches (erythroplakia) that don't heal. Difficulty opening the mouth fully is also a concern.
Actionable Advice:
The most crucial step is to stop consumption of all forms of tobacco and limit alcohol intake. While regular dental check-ups are important, maintaining good oral hygiene and eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables also helps reduce the risk.
2. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among men in India. While tobacco smoking remains the primary cause, non-smokers are also at risk due to exposure to second-hand smoke. Both indoor and outdoor environmental pollution, along with passive smoking, are significant contributing factors.
Warning Signs:
A persistent cough (lasting more than two weeks despite specific treatment), breathing difficulty, blood in sputum, or unexplained changes in voice should prompt immediate medical attention.
Actionable Advice:
Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Take precautions against air pollution, especially in highly polluted areas, by wearing masks. In this case, too, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk.
3. Esophageal Cancer
The third most frequent cancer in Indian men is oesophageal cancer. It affects the food pipe or oesophagus, which is the connection from the throat to the stomach.
One of the most prominent symptoms is difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia. This typically starts with trouble swallowing solid foods and may progress to difficulty with liquids. Another key symptom is unintentional weight loss, often resulting from inadequate nutritional intake due to swallowing difficulties.
Early recognition of these signs is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
Contributing Factors:
Smoking and Alcohol are major risk factors. People with acid reflux are prone to develop a precancerous condition in the lower part of the oesophagus. Consuming very hot beverages and a diet high in salted or very spicy foods is associated with an increased risk.
Actionable Advice:
Any persistent difficulty in swallowing or unexplained weight loss should be evaluated by a doctor without delay.
4. Colorectal Cancer
There is an emerging trend in India where colorectal cancer is being diagnosed much more often in younger individuals. While some cases may involve hereditary factors, lifestyle contributes dramatically to the increase in incidence. Diets high in red meat, obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use are all notable risk factors worth addressing to address this growing public health issue.
Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, have a higher risk.
What to Look For:
Changes in bowel habits (like alternating constipation and diarrhoea), blood or mucus in stools, or persistent abdominal pain should be discussed with a doctor.
Actionable Advice:
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, reducing red meat, and increasing fruits and vegetables is very important.
Additionally, regular physical activity and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol are essential.
5. Stomach Cancer
Fifth in incidence among men, diagnosing stomach cancer can prove difficult due to non-specific and often vague symptoms that can easily be misinterpreted as standard indigestion. Symptoms such as decreased appetite, feeling full after only eating a small amount of food, or weight loss, or passing black stools, which is often ignored, may lead to delayed diagnoses because of the overlap with benign gastrointestinal issues, making early diagnosis essential yet difficult.
Contributing Factors:
While H. pylori infection is a known risk factor, alcohol and smoking, diets high in salty food like salted dried fish, meat, pickles, and very spicy foods are also implicated.
Actionable Advice:
Do not ignore symptoms of digestive discomfort. If you have symptoms like any of the ones listed that occur regularly, please consult with a health professional to get it checked. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk.
H pylori infection needs to be treated.
While each type has its own set of risk factors and warning signs, a common thread across all is the critical importance of early detection. Regular health check-ups, awareness of symptoms, and timely medical consultation can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes. Adopting healthier habits, like quitting tobacco, moderating alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active, can go a long way in prevention.
Ultimately, understanding these types of cancers makes you powerful to take proactive actions for your own health. If you have some ongoing, persistent symptoms, do see a healthcare professional immediately.
Authored by: Dr. Thangarajan Rajkumar, Director of Research (Oncology), MedGenome
Breast Cancer In Indian Women: How Early Periods, Breast Density Among Multiple Factors Are Causing The Rise
One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Karnataka reports 1.2k Covid cases since Jan
Bengaluru: Karnataka reported 1,220 Covid-19 cases since Jan 1, with 559 active cases, 652 recoveries, and 9 deaths recorded. The rise comes amid a fresh nationwide uptick in infections, with the current rate of positivity in the state at 40.7% – out of 650 tests conducted Monday, 265 found positive. However, health experts maintain that the current situation does not warrant panic, though precautions remain necessary. Out of 559 active cases, 552 people are under home isolation. According to Dr Sunil Kumar, epidemiologist and secretary of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, the recent cases in Karnataka and other parts of the country are largely due to sublineages of the Omicron variant—specifically JN.1, LF.7, and NF.1.8.1. "These are not new variants, but descendants of Omicron. They are more transmissible, which explains the steady rise in the numbers," he said. Despite the increase in cases, the severity remains low. Dr Kumar noted, "Over 95% of patients are recovering at home, with only 3-4% requiring hospitalisation. Very few of those hospitalised need oxygen support. Another factor contributing to the rise is the expansion of testing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News: You May Be Richer Than You Think Undo The state resumed screening for ILI (influenza-like illness) and Sari (severe acute respiratory infection), which naturally results in more detected cases. Covid moved into an endemic phase. Unlike earlier pandemic waves, such periodic surges are expected once or twice a year." Dr Vinay Hosadurga, a general physician at Vasavi Hospitals, pointed out a shift in symptoms with the current variant. "Earlier, many patients reported loss of smell and taste. That's no longer common. What we are seeing now in some cases is diarrhoea," he said. He added, "The monsoon season could further complicate diagnosis due to a simultaneous rise in flu cases. Since both flu and Covid-19 present similar symptoms such as fever and fatigue, patients are advised to avoid self-medication and consult a doctor. There is no cause for alarm, as most cases are mild. But it's still important to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and seek medical advice if symptoms arise."
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stronger core, stronger you! This quick 10-minute routine beats sit-ups and boosts pelvic floor health fast
You don't need a lot of time or equipment to make your core stronger and support your pelvic floor. This 10-minute bodyweight workout works on deep muscles that help with posture, balance, and bladder control. It works quickly and well, and it's made for people of all fitness levels, from beginners to experienced movers. Why should you train your pelvic floor muscles? Lindsay Bomgren's 10-minute workout focuses on the deep core and pelvic floor muscles and only uses bodyweight. The workout has nine easy exercises and built-in breaks. The pelvic floor muscles, which are a part of your core and help with things like balance, posture, and regular bowel, bladder, and sexual function, are the target of this quick exercise, as per a report by Tom's Guide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo ALSO READ: Living solo isn't cheap: Salary to live comfortably tops $120K in 2 states, here's what it takes in all 50 In just ten minutes, you can strengthen your core and the muscles, all without investing in expensive exercise equipment. Your health and well-being can be enhanced by concentrating on these muscles. Live Events What does this 10-minute exercise entail? Bomgren begins this workout with some breathwork to help you activate your core. There are nine exercises total, with 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of rest. Bomgren advises kneeling and using your breath to "wrap" your core muscles around you like a "shoelace,' as per a report by Tom's Guide. You will take a 20-second break after finishing this before beginning your first core exercise, the bear crawl hover. One of the numerous plank variations is the forearm plank, which comes next. After that, alternate knee drives and a C-shape hold are used. A full body roll-up, dead bug, hollow rock hold, alternating knee pulls, double leg pulls, C-shaped side-to-side sweeps, and roller boats come next. Bomgren incorporates a variety of dynamic isotonic exercises, such as roller boats and a full-body roll-up, after a mix of isometric core exercises, such as the plank and dead bug. While the latter exercises require movement, the former are static. For instance, when performed consistently and with appropriate breathing techniques, isometric exercises may reduce blood pressure, according to some research. What makes this 10-minute workout different? Improving the urgency, frequency, leakage, fecal urgency, and sexual dysfunction are just a few advantages of strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. Hip and back pain, walking instability, and balance problems can also be caused by a weak pelvic floor. Although pelvic floor exercises have historically only been advised for expectant or new mothers, practically anyone can benefit from them. Who can benefit from these core exercises? Strengthening may help women who are pregnant or recently gave birth, have had abdominal or pelvic surgeries, or have had abdominal or pelvic cancer. However, some people may not require strengthening if they have pelvic floor tension brought on by uncomfortable conditions like endometriosis. Any person who might require exercises should be evaluated to see if they are actually suitable for their needs. FAQs How long does the routine take? Only 10 minutes and no equipment is required for this routine. Can anyone do pelvic floor exercises? Yes! The majority of people benefit, not just postpartum women.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Schools want timely Covid guidelines, if any, for reopening
Nagpur: With school academic session in Vidarbha set to commence in the last week of June, educational institutions hope the govt issues Covid-19 protocol guidelines and reopening procedures, if any, as early as possible. The increasing Covid cases nationwide and associated deaths have created an immediate need for explicit safety instructions for pupils and personnel. Managements are worried about practical difficulties in implementing safety measures if directives arrive shortly before schools resume. Practical requirements of creating a secure learning environment, including classroom reorganisation, proper sanitisation facilities and staff training on new protocols etc demand sufficient preparation time, say academics. Schools require advance notice to establish proper safeguards against potential virus outbreaks. TOI spoke to a few senior school principals, but none of them had written or sought direction from the education department. "In cases like this, it is best to wait for govt to make the first move. While we have apprehension that the authorities might issue last minute guidelines, problem is that if we write then certainly some strict measures might be implemented," a principal said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo She added, safety guidelines are always welcome, but this time it is different. "We have seen how students lived in fear for couple of years and how it has destroyed so many of their abilities, like personal communication skills etc. We do not want to create panic by ourselves seeking Covid guidelines. Had the situation been serious, the govt would have taken proactive steps and issued guidelines," said the principal. However, the expected return of pupils raises questions about space management for social distancing. Without proper controls, areas like classrooms, corridors and shared spaces could become transmission points. Schools seek clarity on face covering requirements, vaccination policies, distancing rules and procedures for handling Covid cases on premises.
