New Delhi, July 2
Obesity rate, and alcohol and tobacco use are the major reasons driving cancer rates in Kerala -- far above the national average, experts said on Wednesday.
A recent study presented by Prof Prashant Mathur, Director, ICMR-National Center for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, at the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025, held last week, reveals alarming cancer trends in the state -- reporting an average of 88,460 cases annually.
“Reducing cancer burden requires a combination of general non-communicable disease risk reduction strategies and cancer-specific interventions,” Mathur told.
While the national average stands at 105 per lakh population in men and 103 per lakh population in women, Kerala reported an incidence of 243 per lakh population in men and 219 per lakh population in women.
Kerala's contribution is significant at nearly 5.7 per cent of India's total cancer burden. By 2030, projections indicate a further rise to 43,930 cases in men and 45,813 in women, the report showed.