As cancer cases continue to rise across India, oncologists are calling for a dual focus on awareness and innovation—two forces they say can decisively change patient outcomes.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India reports over 14 lakh new cancer cases every year, with a steady increase in lifestyle-linked cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. Yet, experts stress that the battle is far from lost—especially as early detection, tech-enabled diagnostics, and personalised therapies are becoming mainstream.
This National Cancer Awareness Day, let’s strengthen our commitment to regular screenings, timely diagnosis, and healthy living.
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) November 7, 2025
Together, we can prevent, detect, and fight cancer effectively. #NationalCancerAwarenessDay #CancerAwareness pic.twitter.com/TKHb4Z279J
“Cancer is a word that evokes fear, but it should instead awaken awareness,” says Dr Vishwanath S, senior consultant and academic advisor, Department of Medical Oncology at Apollo Cancer Care Unit Hospitals, Bengaluru. “Today, AI-powered diagnostics are helping us deliver faster, more accurate, and personalised cancer care. However, technological advancements alone cannot defeat cancer—awareness must lead the way.”
From robotic surgeries and targeted immunotherapy to AI-assisted treatment planning, India’s leading cancer centres are embracing a patient-centric approach. Institutions like Tata Memorial Hospital, AIIMS, and Apollo Hospitals are working toward integrating advanced molecular testing, reducing diagnostic delays, and expanding access to affordable cancer care.
Public health experts underline that timely screening remains the single most effective intervention. The Ministry of Health’s National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) aims to expand community-based cancer screening, particularly for breast, cervical, and oral cancers.
Dr Vijay Agarwal, senior consultant, medical oncology, Apollo Cancer Care Unit Hospitals, Bengaluru, explains how the field of oncology is transforming rapidly, and we are now able to personalise cancer care through molecular diagnostics, immunotherapy, and targeted treatments.
"Cancer detected early is often curable; cancer ignored can become a battle much harder to fight. Awareness begins with education—knowing risk factors, recognising early symptoms, and understanding that screening is not optional but essential. As medical professionals, we can offer advanced treatments, but the community’s role in early detection is equally vital.”
However, despite policy advances, stigma and lack of awareness continue to impede early diagnosis—especially among women and in rural areas. “Early detection transforms outcomes,” says Dr Vishwanath, “but that transformation begins only when people choose to act on what they know.”
Dr Sangita Reddy, joint managing director at Apollo Hospitals, talks about oncologists working towards a vision of zero late-stage diagnoses, while acknowledging that in India, "challenges are immense with our vast geography, socioeconomic disparities, cultural barriers, and limited awareness."
"But these must not deter us. We must build decentralised cancer screening hubs, leverage tele-health to connect difficult-to-access areas, partner with local communities and NGOs, and foster innovation that is contextually relevant," she adds.
As India marks National Cancer Awareness Day, oncologists and policymakers alike are calling for a collective mindset shift—from fear and fatalism to knowledge, vigilance, and early intervention. Because with every screening, conversation, and scientific breakthrough, the message grows louder that cancer is not the end of a story—it can be the beginning of survival.
