{"id":62062,"date":"2026-02-03T18:28:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/risingentrepreneurs.in\/index.php\/2026\/02\/03\/why-more-women-get-cancer-in-india-but-more-men-die\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T18:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:58:51","slug":"why-more-women-get-cancer-in-india-but-more-men-die","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/risingentrepreneurs.in\/index.php\/2026\/02\/03\/why-more-women-get-cancer-in-india-but-more-men-die\/","title":{"rendered":"Why More Women Get Cancer in India \u2013 But More Men Die"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 03:<\/strong> <\/span>Cancer is a growing public health challenge in India, affecting millions of families every year. Recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reveal a notable paradox:\u00a0women in India report a slightly higher incidence of cancer, yet men experience a greater share of cancer deaths<\/strong>.\u00a0Dr Niti Krishna Raizada, Principal Director \u2013 Medical Oncology & Hemato Oncology at Fortis Group of Hospitals, Bangalore explained, \u201c<\/strong>Understanding this pattern is essential to designing effective prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies\u201d.<\/p>\n

Between 2015 and 2019, analysis of more than\u00a0700,000 cancer cases<\/strong>\u00a0suggests that\u00a0women accounted for just over 50 % of new cancer diagnoses<\/strong>, compared to about\u00a049 % in men<\/strong>. However,\u00a0men constituted around 55 % of cancer-related deaths<\/strong>, whereas women accounted for approximately 45 %.<\/p>\n

Dr Niti added<\/strong>, \u201cThe types of cancers that predominate among women and men help explain this disparity\u201d.\u00a0Among women, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed<\/strong>, followed by cervical and ovarian cancers. These cancers, while serious, are often\u00a0responsive to early detection and treatment<\/strong>. In contrast,men more commonly develop oral, lung, and prostate cancers<\/strong>, which are closely linked to\u00a0high-risk behaviours<\/strong>\u00a0like tobacco and alcohol use and often present at later, more advanced stages, leading to poorer outcomes.<\/p>\n

This gender gap in mortality reflects deeper issues in healthcare access and health behaviour. Men may be less likely to seek medical care early, leading to delayed diagnoses. Additionally,\u00a0risk factors like smoking, heavy alcohol use, and occupational exposures<\/strong>\u00a0are more prevalent among Indian men, increasing both the incidence and lethality of certain cancers.<\/p>\n

For women, although incidence is higher,\u00a0early detection through organized screening and awareness<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 especially for breast and cervical cancers \u2014 has helped improve outcomes and reduce mortality. Furthermore, increased health-seeking behaviour among many women for reproductive health may translate into earlier opportunities to detect cancer says Dr Niti.<\/p>\n

To reduce the cancer burden for both genders,\u00a0multi-pronged action is needed<\/strong>:<\/p>\n