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
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Think olive oil is healthy? Shockingly study says it contributes to obesity
Image credits: Getty Images It's time for an oil change, really. A recent study has stunned people with the news that olive oil actually contributes to obesity. For years, olive oil has been consumed as a healthy alternative to other cooking oils. According to the North American Olive Oil Association, more than 50% of American households use olive oil due to its flavour and health benefits. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, olive oil has anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, renoprotective and anti-neurodegenerative agents. However, a recent study published in the journal Cell Reports revealed that eating a high-fat diet containing a huge amount of oleic acid- a type of fatty acid found in olive oil, can cause more obesity than other types of dietary fats. Oleic acid, a monosaturated fat associated with obesity, leads the body to make more fat cells. High levels of the acid boost a signalling protein, AKT2 and reduce the activity of a regulating protein LXR, to result in the faster growth of the precursor cells that form new fat cells. "We know that the types of fat that people eat have changed during the obesity epidemic. We wanted to know whether simply overeating a diet rich in fat causes obesity, or whether the composition of these fatty acids that make up the oils in the diet is important. Do specific fat molecules trigger responses in the cells?" said Michael Rudolph, Ph.D, assistant professor of biochemistry and physiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and member of OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center to Medical Xpress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The shocking research Image credits: Getty Images Rudolph and his team which included other collaborators at Yale University School of Medicine and New York University School of Medicine, carried out the research by feeding mice a variety of specialized diets rich in particular individual fatty acids, including those found in coconut oil, peanut oil, milk, lard and soybean oil. Oleic acid was the only one that led to precursor cells that gave rise to fat cells to proliferate more than other fatty acids. "You can think of the fat cells as an army," explained Rudolph. "When you give oleic acid, it initially increases the number of 'fat cell soldiers' in the army, which creates a larger capacity to store excess dietary nutrients. Over time, if the excess nutrients overtake the number of fat cells, obesity can occur, which can then lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes if not controlled." He suggested consuming fats in moderation and from a variety of sources. "Relatively balanced levels of oleic acid seem to be beneficial, but higher and prolonged levels may be detrimental. If someone is at risk for heart disease, high levels of oleic acid may not be a good idea." One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Avoid rath yatra if you have Covid symptoms'
Gandhinagar: While urging people to take precautions against Covid-19, state health minister Rushikesh Patel on Wednesday advised those with Covid-like symptoms and those with co-morbidities to refrain from participating in Lord Jagannath's rath yatra on June 27. "People who have symptoms like those of Covid-19 must refrain from participating in the rath yatra. Also, people with co-morbidities, the elderly, and those who have flu-like symptoms must remain in their houses and watch the rath yatra," Patel said while talking to reporters in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. He added that this will ensure that people who have symptoms will not transmit it to others, and co-morbid people will also not be exposed to infections. Meanwhile, after participating in the jal yatra in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi said that the rath yatra is a centre of devotion for lakhs of people. "Preparations are being made for the rath yatra to be held on June 27. It is the biggest procession from the perspectives of both devotion and administration," the minister said. With more than 1,200 active Covid-19 cases in Gujarat at present, Patel said that although the variant responsible for the surge is less severe than previous ones, people need to take precautions and isolate themselves if symptoms emerge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "We are in touch with the Union health ministry. The variant responsible for these new cases belongs to the Omicron family, which is less severe," he said. Although the variant is not very harmful, people need to take precautionary measures. Patel said that health infrastructure like beds, medicines and medical oxygen supply is in place.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
New rule of medical examination for green card applicants from June 11: All you need to know
Green card applicants need to submit new medical form with new application. If they have an old one for an application that was withdrawn or rejected, it's not valid anymore. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it was making an immediate policy change for green card applicants, keeping in mind the issue of public health. The previous policy was introduced just over a year ago, but now the new rule will be applicable from June 11. What is the new rule? Every new application for a green card requires a new medical examination form. Suppose an application was withdrawn or rejected earlier. The new application of the same person would now require a new medical examination form. But per the existing rule, the medical form remained valid for indefinite time. "Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, is only valid while the application the Form I-693 was submitted with is pending. If the application a Form I-693 was submitted with is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025," the USCIS said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo "Most aliens subject to health-related grounds of inadmissibility must have an immigration medical examination to demonstrate they are not inadmissible. In general, aliens applying to adjust status must submit Form I-693 to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds of inadmissibility. We may require an alien who would otherwise not be required to undergo an immigration medical examination to submit a Form I-693 as a matter of discretion, if the evidence indicates that there may be a public health concern," the department said. USCIS said in April 2024, this policy was updated to make the validity of the medical report indefinite but now it seems that this policy could potentially threaten public health in the United States. "We have since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States. By limiting the validity period to only the current immigration benefit application or request, we ensure that aliens get timely and proper medical examinations and treatment, which safeguards public health," the USCIS said.
