Hyderabad: Even as cancer cases rise steadily in Telangana, screening rates remain alarmingly low — leaving thousands at risk of late diagnosis and poor outcomes. Less than 4% of women aged 30-49 in the state have undergone any form of cancer screening, according to the Telangana Cancer Burden Profile-2026 released by the Indian Council of Medical Research and its National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research. Breast cancer screening is critically low at just 0.3%, while oral cancer screening stands at 2.5% and cervical cancer screening at 3.3%. Among men in the same age group, only 2.6% have undergone oral cavity examinations. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in India, including Telangana, followed by cervical and ovarian cancers. Despite this, screening coverage remains minimal, raising concerns over missed opportunities for early detection. The report, based on data from the National Cancer Registry Programme, draws inputs from the Population-Based Cancer Registry at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences and 10 other hospitals across the state.46k new cancer casesIt estimates that Telangana will record over 46,762 new cancer cases in 2026, including 21,252 in men and 25,510 in women. The numbers are expected to rise further, reaching 47,314 cases annually by 2030. Data presented earlier in the Lok Sabha shows a 30% rise in cancer cases over the past decade — from 40,177 cases in 2015 to 52,334 in 2024. The state health department has projected 55,000 new cases annually, which could increase to 65,000 by 2030. The burden is higher among women. The average annual number of new cases stands at 2,423 for women compared to 1,883 for men. The incidence rate is also higher — 183.8 per 100,000 population among women, against 141.9 among men. The lifetime risk of developing cancer is estimated at 1 in 6 for women and 1 in 8 for men. Tobacco-related cancers remain a major concern. They account for 58.8% of cancers among men and 29.7% among women, driven largely by high tobacco use — reported at 22.3% among men. These cancers commonly affect the oral cavity, lungs and throat.The report also highlights a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which make up 59.2% of the state’s disease load. Risk factors such as obesity, anaemia, diabetes, hypertension and high blood sugar levels are widespread and increase cancer risk. Reproductive and hormonal conditions, including PCOD and menopause-related issues, are also common but often underreported. A senior oncologist from MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre said low screening rates are leading to late detection. “The data shows that a significant proportion of patients come at advanced stages of the disease, which complicates treatment outcomes. There is an urgent need to scale up population-based screening programmes, strengthen primary healthcare systems, and intensify anti-tobacco measures,” the doctor added.
