What is making cancer a public health concern in Kerala?

Cancer is becoming a public health concern in Kerala due to socio-demographic and epidemiological changes, along with a high prevalence of risk factors.

What are the most common cancers in Kerala males and females?

In males, the common cancers are lung, mouth, stomach, tongue, and larynx. In females, the common ones are breast, cervix, ovary, mouth, and lung.

Why is cancer mortality high in Kerala?

High mortality is attributed to delays in early detection, substantial treatment costs, limited treatment centers, and a general lack of awareness about the disease.

Home / Health / Kerala Cancer Surge: Early Detection Lags

Kerala Cancer Surge: Early Detection Lags

29 Jan

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Summary

Kerala faces a growing cancer public health concern.
Over 66,000 new cases projected annually in Kerala.
Late-stage diagnoses and high costs hinder treatment.

Kerala Cancer Surge: Early Detection Lags

Cancer is emerging as a significant public health concern in Kerala, driven by evolving socio-demographic and epidemiological factors, alongside prevalent risk factors. Projections suggest Kerala, with a population of 3.34 crore, will witness over 66,000 new cancer cases each year, according to the Economic Review 2025. The cumulative risk of developing cancer by age 74 is one in seven for males and one in nine for females in the state.

Analysis of data from the Malabar Cancer Centre reveals that a substantial number of patients, 50.9%, are diagnosed at advanced stages (III and IV). Conversely, only 26.2% are identified at early stages (I and II). Lung cancers in both sexes have shown an upward trend between 2010 and 2020. The review highlights that late detection, high treatment expenses, scarcity of treatment centers, and insufficient public awareness are major contributors to the disease's high mortality.

Treatment facilities like the Malabar Cancer Centre, Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and Cochin Cancer Research Centre are handling a substantial patient load. In 2024-25, the Malabar Cancer Centre treated 6,406 inpatients and 1,20,205 outpatients. The RCC reported daily average patient visits of 863 and admitted 12,652 patients in the same period. These figures underscore the immense demand for cancer care services in the state.