Men face a higher risk of death from cancer compared to women, despite more women being diagnosed with the deadly disease, a study has found.
An analysis of cases from 43 cancer registries over a period of four years (2015-19), showed that lower death rate among women cancer patients is linked to early detection and more advanced treatment options for certain cancer types in them.
As per the study, the incidence of cancer among women was higher at 51.1%, while the death rate among them stood at 45%.
Reason why women are less likely to die of cancer
The reason for relatively lower fatalities in women cancer patients is that the most common cancers among them – breast cancer and cervical cancer – are easily detectable and treatable.
“This apparent disparity between cases and deaths can largely be explained by the types of cancers most
common in women,” Dr Prashant Mathur, director of ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, which coordinates the country’s cancer registry, told The Indian Express.
On the other hand, Dr Abhishek Shankar, oncologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), told The Indian Express, that commonly occurring cancers in men, such as lung and gastric cancers, are more difficult to treat.
“Breast cancer is easier to detect early as women may feel the lump themselves. Lung cancer, in comparison, does not have such easily identifiable symptoms which would lead someone to seek care,” he said.
According to the recent publication of patterns and trends in cancer incidence and mortality, an incidence of 7,08223 cases (51.1% females and 48.9% males) were reported.
“Increased incidence of cancer among females is largely due to increase in the breast cancer which often present in early stages enabling more treatment options and cure rates where as in males presentation of oral cavity, lung cancers at an advanced stage which will limit the treatment options contributing to higher mortality,” Dr Ramana Gogi, Principal Consultant – Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital Gurugram, told Financial Express.com.
India ranks second in cancer mortality, third in incidence
As per The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 India ranks third in terms of cancer incidence and second for mortality.
“Alarmingly, cancer-related mortalities have increased faster among females than males over the past decade and are expected to continue rising over coming two decades,” Dr Huma Noor, Consultant Medical Oncology at Fortis Okhla, told Financial Express.com.