Rajasthan is facing an “alarming increase” in the cancer cases, with the lip, oral cavity and pharynx and the digestive organs accounting for the highest prevalence of the disease, according to a new study. Jaipur is the worst hit city in the State in terms of the number of cancer patients per one lakh population, it stated.
The study, based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10-coded data of cancer patients, has taken into account the geographic distribution of patients coming from different districts of Rajasthan. Of the 14,911 registered patients in 2024, 10,363 were diagnosed with cancer.
The histopathology department of Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital in Jaipur is the centre approved for reporting histopathologically confirmed cases of cancer from Rajasthan to the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research for ICMR’s Indian Cancer Registry. The information from the State was routed through this channel.
Medico-legal activist Shri Gopal Kabra, who is Director (Clinical) at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital, told The Hindu here on Friday that high prevalence of oral, digestive, and respiratory cancers was linked to lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and exposure to pesticides.
The rising incidence of breast and cervical cancer in women indicated to the need for early detection and treatment, Dr. Kabra said. The highest number of 2,837 patients, estimated as 332.24 per one lakh population, were reported from Jaipur, followed by 1,031 from Alwar, 855 from Ajmer, 685 from Sikar, and 649 from Jhunjhunu.
The average cancer incidence in the State is estimated at 134.57 cases per one lakh population, which is significantly above India’s national average of 113 cases. Dr. Kabra said this analysis would guide policymakers in planning interventions effectively.
Other types of cancers, though not as severe as those of oral cavity and respiratory organs but still recorded in significant numbers, include bone and cartilage, melanoma, soft tissue, male genital organs, urinary tract, thyroid, lymphoid and haematopoietic tissues, and endocrine-related malignancies.
Dr. Kabra, who has authored several books on legal applications to medical science and ethics, said half-a-dozen cancer centres had come up in Jaipur during the last five years, reflecting the cancer trends in Rajasthan. “However, the number of patients coming to Bhagwan Mahaveer Hospital from across the State has not shown any substantial decrease,” he said.
‘Urgent need to act’
“The alignment of data with the Indian Cancer Registry underscores the reliability of our findings. There is an urgent need to act on this escalating public health challenge,” Dr. Kabra said.
The octogenarian professor, with degrees in both medicine and law, said policymakers and care providers must collect comprehensive real time statistical information of the rising menace of cancer.
He said the primary preventive measures, such as reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption and minimising pesticide exposure, should be promoted widely. The secondary prevention through early screening, diagnosis, and treatment could also significantly reduce the prevalence of cancer, he added.
Published – September 06, 2025 01:50 am IST
