By 2020, breast cancer to overtake cervical cancer in India

In a written reply, Minister of State for Health S. Gandhiselvan said that by 2020, it is expected that breast cancer will overtake cervical cancer at the current rate of increase in cancer cases. But at the moment, cervical cancer tops the list of cancers detected among Indian women as it's symptoms are not easily detected.

Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix -- the opening of the uterus, extending into the upper end of the vagina.

The minister said that according to the National Cancer Registry Programme report on time trends in cancer incidences rates (1982-2005) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the estimated breast cancer cases in India in 2010 is 90,659 and of cervical cancer is 103,821.

He added that the National Programme for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke has been approved with an outlay of Rs.731.52 crore for cancer for the remaining two years of the 11th Five Year Plan (2010-11 and 2011-12) for strengthening cancer care facilities in the country.

He said under the scheme, they plan to increase awareness, prevention, early detection and treatment for cancer cases, besides strengthening the health care delivery.