Age (longevity), awareness, affordability, better diagnostics, improving treatment options and  risk factors (reversible and irreversible) are some of the causes.  

Longevity – people are living longer now. Cancer is a stage in one’s evolution of life, we  believe. There is an increasing longevity in our population. The average lifespan of an Indian  today is nearly 70 years. The longer we live, the higher the risk of having a type of cancer.  Data and statistics suggest that if you live up to 80 years, there is a 1 in 6 to 1 in 7 people  having a type of cancer.  

With improving healthcare, better diagnostics and treatment – we are picking up early  cancers and curing them. Advances in technology and training have helped patients to live  longer after cancer treatment. 

Awareness about cancers, cancer symptoms, Diagnostics and treatments have helped the  population to reach out to healthcare. 

The stigma around cancers is much less now.  

Affordability and accessibility is better with the government playing a dual role of being a  healthcare provider and insurer. Corporate care is on par with the best in the world. Risk  factors and the high risk lifestyle are on the rise.  

Adoption of western practices and neglect of traditional practices are leading to a faster pace  of life. Fast Foods, delayed conception, lack of breastfeeding are only some of the causes.  Smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diet, unhealthy eating practices, obesity, contaminated food, water and Stressful life chasing time.  

The role of stress cannot be underestimated.  

Environmental (air, water, food) pollution and genetic predisposition are some of the causes  for increasing incidence and prevalence of cancers.  

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in the world. In our country about 5 lakh new cancer  cases are detected annually. 

Risk factors in today’s context – lifestyle etc.? 

Nature, Nurture and the mind play an important role as risk factors for cancer. The risk factors  can be broadly categorized into environmental factors, patient related factors, socio- cultural  and civilizational poverty. Patient related factors can be further categorized into physical, physiological and psychosocial factors.  

Environmental factors: Polluted air, water, and food products / processed and refined food / increased preservatives within the food products / industrialisation / exposure to harmful  radiation etc. 

Patient related factors: Longevity is a desirable risk factor. We are living longer and our  average lifespan in India today is 70 yrs. Westernised lifestyle with changing eating and  drinking habits. Sedentary lifestyle, Alcohol, Tobacco, Obesity, Red meat, processed meat,  high fat diet, lack of dietary fiber and fruits, lack of exercise, Changing work pattern to desk  jobs from manual work and increasing stress. Diabetes, metabolic syndromes and  westernisation have all led to civilizational poverty.  

Family history & genetic predisposition: Presence of a family history increases the risk of  cancers and having a genetic predisposition puts him at high risk of having cancer early.