Lung cancer common in Indian men

Lung and breast cancers are the most frequently diagnosed forms of cancer in India, shows the latest report of the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) of the Indian Council of Medical Research.

NCRP received data on different types of cancer from 20 places, mostly cities, between January 2006 and December 2008. In 13 places lung cancer was on the top of the list of many types of cancer diagnosed among men, while breast cancer led the list among women in 16 places. Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Thiruvanthapuram top the list of NCRP (see table).

Lung cancer is mainly caused by smoking tobacco. Even exposure to passive smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. Few other factors that could cause the disease include exposure to asbestos, radon gas and air pollution. Though scientists are yet to zero in on what causes breast cancer, risk of the disease increases among the aged, obese, those with dense breast tissue, those who consume alcohol in excess or those who have a family history of breast cancer