Hyderabad: Hanumakonda has recorded the highest cancer incidence rate in Telangana, with 79 cases per one lakh population annually, followed by Hyderabad with 72 cases, according to the first-ever ‘Cancer Atlas of Telangana’, which covers nearly 90% of the state’s population.The report, prepared by oncologist and cancer advisor to the Telangana govt, Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, was recently submitted to chief minister A Revanth Reddy. According to the atlas, Telangana recorded an overall average cancer incidence rate of 52 cases per one lakh population per year between 2020 and 2025.The Cancer Atlas analysed cancer incidence trends across all 33 districts using data from the Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Care Trust. It is expected to serve as a roadmap for cancer prevention, screening and treatment planning in the state.Besides Hanumakonda and Hyderabad, other districts with relatively high cancer incidence rates include Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Rajanna Sircilla and Jagtial, each reporting incidence rates of 60 or more cases per one lakh population.Speaking to TOI, Dr Dattatreyudu clarified that the figures were “not alarmingly high”, noting that most districts reported cancer incidence rates in the range of 40–50 cases per lakh population. He explained that Hyderabad’s higher numbers could partly be due to the concentration of major cancer treatment centres in the city, which attract patients from across Telangana and neighbouring states.“If one district reports unusually high incidence rates, it needs a detailed investigation to determine whether it is due to better screening, early detection, migration of patients or other underlying causes,” he said.However, the report noted that high incidence rates in urban districts such as Hyderabad and Rangareddy, despite better healthcare access, suggest that lifestyle-related factors, including dietary habits, pollution, stress and delayed detection, may be contributing to the growing cancer burden.According to Dr Dattatreyudu, the atlas will help authorities identify cancer hotspots, assess whether cancers are occurring at younger ages and evaluate the effectiveness of screening programmes in reducing incidence rates over time. The data will also support the govt’s efforts to decentralise chemotherapy and radiation facilities, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.Last month, Telangana declared cancer a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for both govt and private hospitals to report cancer cases to the health department. The state is also developing 33 cancer centres to decentralise treatment and improve access to care.Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the atlas would help identify high-incidence areas and support the establishment of special screening centres and cancer hospitals beyond Hyderabad under the Aarogyasri network.Earlier this year, the Telangana Cancer Burden Profile-2026, released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), revealed that less than 4% of women aged 30–49 in the state had undergone any form of cancer screening, raising concerns about late diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
