Nearly 69 lakh cancer deaths among Indian women were preventable: What a study says on gender and the disease

Source– The post is based on the article “Nearly 69 lakh cancer deaths among Indian women were preventable: What a study says on gender and the disease” published in “The Hindu” on 27th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Social Issues – Issues related to development and management of health

Relevance- Cancer among women

News– A new Lancet report highlights the issues of cancer among women.

What are some important revelations about the recent Lancet Commission report on gender disparities in cancer care, titled ‘Women, Power and Cancer,’?

It revealed that approximately 63% of premature cancer-related deaths in Indian women could have been prevented through risk reduction, screening, and early diagnosis. Furthermore, 37% of these deaths could have been avoided with timely and optimal treatment.

The report estimated that out of the 6.9 million cancer deaths among women in India, 4.03 million were preventable, and 2.87 million were treatable.

The report emphasised that despite men being at a higher risk of some cancers, cancer incidence and mortality among women in India remain alarmingly high.

Globally, women account for 48% of new cancer cases and 44% of cancer-related deaths. This disparity persists even for cancers in women, such as breast and cervical cancers, that are highly preventable and treatable.

What are the reasons behind the poorer outcomes for women?

Lancet report– It highlighted that women encounter difficulties in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare due to their limited knowledge, decision-making authority, financial resources, and the availability of services at the primary level near their homes.

women are more prone than men to lack the necessary knowledge and authority to make well-informed healthcare decisions.

Women are underrepresented in leadership roles face gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment and constitute the largest group of unpaid healthcare providers.

According to the report’s estimates, the unpaid caregiving services provided by women in the context of cancer care account for approximately 3.66% of India’s national health expenditure.

Societal issues- Breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers in women, but many women hesitate to seek help from male doctors or even female doctors for genital examinations.

Logistical issues- The necessity of travelling to district hospitals, state capitals, or larger tertiary hospitals in other states for cancer screening, diagnostic tests, and treatment contributes to treatment delays.

What is the way forward?

Screening- Breast and cervical cancer are highly preventable and manageable. Women often seek medical attention at advanced stages of these diseases, even though both can be identified early through screening.

Monthly self-examinations of the breasts, annual clinical examinations by a physician, and yearly mammograms for women over 40 to monitor for breast cancer are useful.

There is a need for immediate consultation with a doctor if any lumps are detected during self-examination.

Women between the ages of 25 and 65 to undergo regular pap smear tests to detect precancerous changes in the cervix. HPV test, which identifies the human papillomavirus responsible for a majority of cervical cancers, can be conducted every five or ten years.

Awareness- It is necessary among the population, especially women, so they actively participate in cancer screening and seek medical attention.

HPV vaccination program– It will reduce the occurrence of common cancers in women. Vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV) are already available in the country, and an indigenous vaccine has also been developed.

Role of PHCs- Government’s screening programs at primary health centres and sub-centers can aid in early diagnosis.

For cervical cancer, treatment can be provided by nursing staff at primary health centres, like the practice in Bangladesh.