Cancer in India is surging, with a significant number of people falling prey to this deadly disease each year. Gujarat has witnessed a continuous increase in cancer cases, particularly breast and uterine cancers. At least 28,768 women have lost their lives to these in the last five years, with 20,317 succumbing to breast cancer and 8,451 to uterine cancer. On average, 16 women die from breast and uterine cancer every day in the state.
According to a report published by the state health department, breast cancer cases among women in Gujarat have been steadily rising. In 2014, 3,355 women lost their lives to breast cancer, followed by 3,450 in 2015, 3,547 in 2016 and 3,647 in 2017. Compared to 2014, breast cancer deaths increased by 30 per cent in 2013. Among states with the highest breast cancer mortality in 2013, Uttar Pradesh ranked first with 11,451 deaths, followed by Maharashtra with 7,265, West Bengal at third with 6,472 fatalities and Gujarat at the ninth position.
Uterine cancer cases also displayed a similar trend. In Gujarat, 1,393 cases were reported in 2014, rising to 1,434 in 2015, 1,474 in 2016, 1,515 in 2017 and 1,557 in 2018. The alarming statistics reveal a 30 per cent increase in uterine cancer cases in 2023 compared to 2014. Nationally, 33,938 women lost their lives to uterine cancer in 2021, followed by 34,806 in 2022 and 35,691 in 2023.
Breast cancer fatalities remain a significant concern. In 2021, 78,387 women died from breast cancer, increasing to 80,390 in 2022 and 82,429 in 2023 across India.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu reported the highest uterine cancer deaths in 2023 (3,755), followed by Maharashtra (3,171) and Uttar Pradesh (4,763). Gujarat ranks ninth in uterine cancer mortality.
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