India’s hidden cancer crisis: Why more young people are getting head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancer sounds scary, but understanding it makes a big difference. This group of cancers affects areas like the mouth, throat, nose, voice box, and sometimes the salivary glands.

In India, it’s one of the more common cancers, especially among men, and lifestyle habits play a big role.Gaining belly fat despite same diet? AIIMS, Harvard, Stanford-trained ‘gut doctor’ explains the ‘hidden’ reason“Oral cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer in India, and it is increasing at such a pace that this problem warrants immediate attention at a national level. A problem once considered to affect elderly people with prolonged exposure to both tobacco and alcohol, it is now becoming dangerously common in younger Indians in their 20s and early 30s. Current national figures and research studies indicate a demographic shift due to lifestyle modifications, ready access to these carcinogens, and a diagnostic delay,” says Dr Prashant Pawar, Surgical Oncology (Head & Neck), HCG ICS Khubchandani, Colaba.

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Changing ways in which the disease is affecting patients

“What is more alarming is the increasing proportion of younger patients below 45 years, accounting for nearly 20% of patients with oral cancer, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.

This is a dramatic jump from the 5-10% recorded two decades earlier. The buccal mucosa and tongue continue to be the most frequently involved areas, but Indian patients tend to present at a younger age compared with Western patients,” says Dr Pawar.Tobacco in any form, cigarettes, bidis, gutka, paan, or khaini, is the biggest risk factor. Alcohol, when combined with tobacco, increases the risk even more. In recent years, doctors have also been seeing cases linked to HPV infection, especially cancers of the throat.

Poor oral hygiene and ignoring long-standing mouth ulcers can also add to the risk.“The major contributors include: Smokeless tobacco and areca nuts/supari, gutkha, khaini, paan, and flavored supari, which are cheap and abundantly available and marketed aggressively towards lower social class and adolescents. They are retained in the cheek pouch for a longer time, thus keeping the mucosa of the mouth in direct contact with the carcinogens,” the expert says.

“Areca nut is an established risk factor for Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OMSF), a precancerous lesion with a potential for developing into a serious malignancy called Oral Cancer.

However, there is a definitive trend shift. HPV-16 infection is being recognized increasingly as a major non-tobacco related risk factor for Oral and Oropharyngeal malignancies among the young.”For a long time, we blamed diseases only on food or bad habits.

But now doctors are looking at a bigger picture, lifestyle, stress, and genetics. Long work hours, poor sleep, constant screen time, and barely any movement quietly strain the body. Chronic stress keeps stress hormones high, which can affect immunity, heart health, and even gut function.Dr Pawar says apart from the risk factors mentioned above, other factors may include stressful lifestyles, excessive consumption of alcohol, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Other recent studies have indicated genetic factors which might make some youngsters susceptible to such effects despite short exposure times.“A major problem in Indian patients with this type of malignancy is that most cases are reported in an advanced stage (III or IV). In early occurrences, patients experience painless ulcers, which are considered minor lesions. The survival rate if it is discovered early is above 80-90%, but if a patient postpones treatment, survival drops to 50-65%,” says the expert.The takeaway? Health isn’t just about willpower. It’s about daily routines, mental well-being, and knowing your family history early.

Prevention is possible: Saving Indian youth from a preventable cancer

“To cope with this emerging crisis, a multi-factor strategy will have to be adopted, including proper regulation of smokeless tobacco/supari products, awareness programs in educational institutions, screening in prevalent communities, and awareness programs among people in general regarding HPV and vaccination. But perhaps most importantly, people need to realize that a non-healing ulcer, red or white patch, or continuous pain can never be ignored.

India is observing a major rise in oral cancer among its youth. Early intervention and prevention are our strongest tools in turning this trend around,” urges the doctor.