Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 3: Kerala is witnessing a concerning surge in cancer cases, with rates significantly higher than the national average, largely driven by rising obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, according to health experts and a recent report presented at the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025. The state records an average of 88,460 cancer cases each year, contributing nearly 5.7 per cent to the country’s total cancer burden.
Prof. Prashant Mathur, Director of ICMR-NCDIR, highlighted the urgency of adopting both broad non-communicable disease prevention strategies and cancer-specific interventions to address the growing crisis. His data revealed that while the national cancer incidence stands at around 105 per lakh men and 103 per lakh women, Kerala’s figures are far higher — 243 per lakh in men and 219 per lakh in women.
Projections indicate a further increase by 2030, with cases expected to reach nearly 44,000 in men and over 45,800 in women. Dr. Mohanan Nair, an oncologist based in Kochi, attributed the alarming trend to lifestyle-related factors such as high obesity levels (37 per cent among those aged 15–49), alcohol use (12.4 per cent of men), and tobacco consumption (17 per cent of men). In addition to these habits, sedentary routines, unhealthy diets, environmental factors, and an ageing population are compounding the problem.
The experts also pointed to a strong link between high diabetes prevalence and metabolic syndromes in the state and increased risk for cancers of the breast, liver, pancreas, and colon. Emphasising prevention, Prof. Mathur called for lifestyle shifts — including quitting tobacco and alcohol, adopting a healthier diet, staying physically active, and mitigating pollution — as key measures to reduce cancer risks.
He also stressed the importance of proactive health interventions such as HPV vaccinations for adolescents and regular screenings for common cancers, including oral, cervical, breast, and colorectal types, which can aid early detection and prevention.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Convener of the Kerala State IMA Research Cell, underscored the importance of scaling up screening efforts. He noted that as diagnostic access improves, previously undetected cancers are being identified, which partially explains the rising case numbers. The experts agreed that Kerala must urgently implement coordinated public health responses to curb the escalating cancer crisis.