Paras Health Highlights Rising Cancer Burden in India; Treats Over 20,000 Cancer Patients Across Its Network in a Year

Delhi NCR, Feb 5: In the wake of World Cancer Day, Paras Health released consolidated oncology data revealing that over 20,000 new cancer patients were diagnosed and treated between January 2025 and January 2026 across its hospitals in Delhi NCR, Patna, Panchkula, Kanpur, Udaipur, Srinagar, Ranchi, and Darbhanga. The data underscores the growing cancer burden in India and highlights the urgent need to expand access to specialised, high-quality oncology care beyond metropolitan centres to emerging regions.

Over the past three years, hospitals across the Paras Health network have recorded a steady year-on-year rise in cancer cases, with a sharper increase observed post-2024. While larger centres continue to manage higher patient volumes, hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations have also reported consistent growth, driven by improved diagnostic capabilities, stronger referral pathways, and rising public awareness around early cancer detection. Cancer remains most prevalent in the 40–70 year age group, with the average patient age ranging between 50 and 60 years. Clinicians are also increasingly observing cancer diagnoses among younger adults.

In terms of cancer types, breast cancer has emerged as the most commonly treated cancer among women over the past decade, overtaking cervical cancer, while tobacco-related head and neck cancers continue to remain disproportionately high in India, reflecting ongoing public health challenges linked to tobacco consumption.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Dharminder Nagar, Co-Chair, FICCI Health and Services and Managing Director, Paras Health, said,

“The rising number of cancer cases reflects a combination of changing lifestyles and improved detection. While risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity, pollution, and sedentary habits continue to drive cancer incidence, greater awareness and timely diagnosis are enabling cancers to be identified earlier, when treatment outcomes are significantly better. This underscores the importance of preventive screening and early intervention.”

Doctors across the Paras Health network attribute the increase in cancer cases to a range of lifestyle and environmental factors, including tobacco use in smoked and smokeless forms, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, and exposure to air pollution, chemicals, and pesticides, as well as infections such as HPV and Hepatitis.

Despite persistent misconceptions that cancer is incurable or that diagnostic procedures such as biopsy or surgery cause the disease to spread, medical experts emphasise that many cancers detected at an early stage are highly curable. Advances in cancer care—including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and improved chemotherapy protocols—have significantly enhanced survival outcomes and quality of life.

Paras Health continues to strengthen its multidisciplinary, patient-centric oncology services across its hospitals, reinforcing the critical role of early detection, evidence-based treatment, and sustained public awareness in addressing India’s growing cancer burden.