Hyderabad tops breast cancer cases in India
HYDERABAD: Breast cancer cases are rising sharply across India, with Hyderabad recording the highest incidence in the country, according to a study by the National Cancer Registry Programme of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The study found that for every one lakh people in Hyderabad, 54 develop breast cancer. Bengaluru followed with 46.7 cases, Chennai 45.4, Alappuzha 42.2 and Thiruvananthapuram 40.7.
Rising trend among young women
The report said 2.38 lakh breast cancer cases were recorded nationwide in 2024. Hospitals in Hyderabad are registering large numbers of cases, with a worrying rise among women aged 20–30 years.
At MNJ Cancer Hospital alone, 120–130 new breast cancer cases are reported each month, adding up to about 1,600 annually. Earlier, the hospital logged 70–75 cases a month. Doctors noted that while cervical cancer cases are declining, breast cancer cases have increased significantly. Osmania, Gandhi, NIMS and several private hospitals in Hyderabad are also reporting hundreds of new cases each month.
Lifestyle factors linked to cancer
Doctors attribute the rise in cases to obesity, alcohol consumption, high-fat diets, early onset of menstruation, and late childbirth (after 30 years). Telangana records about 55,000 cancer cases annually, with 4,500 new cases every month.
Globally, one in 28 women is affected by breast cancer. Specialists caution that changes in lifestyle, stress, lack of exercise, and hormonal imbalances from food consumption are key risk factors.
Mammography can save lives
“Women above 40 must undergo mammography to detect breast cancer early,” said Dr Geetanagashree, senior surgical oncologist at Care Hospitals. She stressed that mammography can detect tumours as small as a mustard seed, and with timely treatment, 95% of cases can be cured. “Women should not fear the test. Early screening can save lives,” she added.
