According to the WHO, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and was responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or 1 in 6 deaths, in 2018.
Low- and middle-income countries face a double burden of non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases, and it is crucial to “direct more attention” to cancers prevalent or unique to those countries, a US-based cancer expert said.
Citing data, Dr Shobha Krishnan also said that with cancer cases in India projected to rise by nearly 13 per cent by 2025 compared to 2020, the “urgency to share knowledge and best practices is critical.”
Krishnan, founder and president of the US-based Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC), was recently in India to participate in the first US-India Cancer Dialogue, held in Delhi earlier this month.
In June 2023, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the strong U.S.-India health partnership by announcing new commitments to accelerate the fight against cancer, including convening a U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue to advance cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
According to the WHO, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and was responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or 1 in 6 deaths, in 2018.
Cancer, as a non-communicable disease (NCD), is a leading cause of death, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to diagnosis and treatment is lower.
“Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face a double burden of disease as non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, are rapidly increasing along with persistent infectious diseases. While numerous collaborations between LMICs and high-income countries (HICs) focus on cutting-edge research and treatment, it is critical to direct more attention to cancers prevalent or unique to LMICs,” Krishnan told PTI.
Implementing practical solutions is key, particularly for cancers such as cervical cancer, which imposes “a significant burden in low- and middle-income countries.”
Cost-effective measures such as HPV vaccination and early detection and treatment of positive cases are now available and should be prioritized, he added.
In India, non-communicable diseases, including cancer, are responsible for about 63% of all deaths. Addressing this challenge requires a “concerted effort to reduce the cancer burden effectively and rapidly,” the cancer expert stressed.
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide (12.4% of total cases) and breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, he added.
“The cumulative risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75 is 3 per cent in India, 9 per cent in the US, 10 per cent in the UK and 5 per cent globally. The lifetime risk of breast cancer among women in high-income countries may be up to three times higher than in low-income countries,” Krishnan said in a written response to PTI queries sent via email.
Discussions during the two-day cancer dialogue, attended by experts from India and the US, focused on AI-based innovation for cancer treatment, novel therapies (vaccines, immunotherapy and other biologics), among other topics.
Krishnan gave a presentation on “Cost-effective and equitable cancer therapy and implementation science.”
“As an American citizen with Indian roots, it was deeply meaningful for me to participate in the US-India dialogue on cancer. This collaboration goes beyond mere scientific efforts to truly save lives,” she said.
Krishnan said awareness about breast cancer is “significantly higher” compared to cervical cancer.
“This is mainly because breast cancer affects women in developed countries more frequently than those in developing countries, leading to increased funding for awareness, screening and treatment initiatives. In contrast, cervical cancer is more prevalent in developing countries, largely due to the lack of readily available screening methods that are common in developed countries. As a result, cervical cancer receives less funding and attention,” she said.
According to WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with around 660,000 new cases in 2022. In the same year, around 94% of the 350,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
“Every two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer, highlighting its status as one of the most significant threats to women’s health. Without immediate action, such as HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14 and screening (with treatment for infected women), this rate could double and by 2050, one woman will die from cervical cancer every minute,” the doctor warned.
That said, she reiterated that cervical cancer is “entirely preventable through HPV vaccination and safe, simple and affordable treatment for early-stage cancer that can be delivered even in remote areas of the developing world.”
Speaking at the event, U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti said the exchange embodies the strength of the “bond between our two great nations,” built on a foundation of shared values, mutual respect and a common vision for a healthier future.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 11, 2024 | 16:28 IS
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