“EGFR mutations are notably more common"
Indian women face a higher lifetime risk of developing cancer than men and are more likely to die younger from malignancies, according to research.
A World Health Organisation–International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC) GLOBOCAN 2022 report found that women have a crude cancer incidence rate of around 105 cases per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 64.2.
In comparison, men recorded lower rates of 91.5 and 62.2.
Of the 1,413,316 total cancer cases reported in India that year, 712,138 were among women and 691,178 among men. Lung cancer alone accounted for 81,748 cases and caused 75,031 deaths.
While breast, cervical, ovarian, and colorectal cancers remain the most common among Indian women, lung cancer, once largely seen in men and smokers, has now become the sixth most common cancer among females.
Researchers warn that lung cancer, one of the most aggressive malignancies with poor treatment outcomes and low five-year survival rates, is increasing faster in women than in men.
Based on data from 92 hospitals between 2012 and 2019, a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research found that women show higher crude lung cancer incidence and mortality rates than men.
The disease also strikes women earlier, typically between 45 and 69 years, compared to men who are most often affected between 50 and 74 years.
Dr Ravi Mehrotra said: “In addition to indoor and outdoor air pollution, which are major concerns in India, women, like other Asian populations, have a higher prevalence of specific genetic mutations that drive lung cancer.”
He added that prolonged exposure to biofuel smoke and areas with high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, particularly those with elevated fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), can significantly raise cancer risks among women.
Indian women are also more likely to carry mutations such as EGFR, ALK, and ROS1, which are linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), a form of cancer increasingly seen in non-smokers.
Dr Mehrotra continued: “EGFR mutations are notably more common in Asian women who do not smoke.
“These mutations are not typically associated with smoking-induced cancers.”
This suggests an alternate cancer pathway, likely triggered by environmental pollutants acting on genetically predisposed individuals.
Dr Ramana Gogi, medical oncologist with CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram, said women may also be more vulnerable because “the female hormone oestrogen can affect these genetic pathways”.
Data from tertiary hospitals indicate that most female lung cancer patients are diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a subtype of NSCLC that originates from cells lining the lungs.
By contrast, squamous carcinoma, typically found in smokers, affects the cells that line the airways.
Dr Tanvi Bhatt, a Pulmonologist at Zynova Shalby Hospital in Mumbai, said lung cancer cases are surging in India.
She said: “Lung cancer develops when abnormal cells in the lungs grow uncontrollably, forming tumours that can interfere with breathing and spread to other parts of the body.”
While smoking remains a primary cause, a growing number of women with no history of smoking are being affected.
Dr Bhatt added: “Indoor pollutants also cause lung cancer.
“Kitchen smoke from unventilated cooking or biomass fuel can lead to a surge in lung cancer cases.”
She warned that exposure to secondhand smoke and long-term air pollution can damage lung tissue and trigger DNA changes.
“Around 30% women who are non-smokers can suffer from lung cancer,” she said, stressing the importance of awareness and timely diagnosis.
Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or pain, fatigue, and sudden weight loss.
Early detection is crucial for improving outcomes.
Women experiencing persistent respiratory symptoms should consult a doctor for imaging and diagnostic tests.
Loading ...