This is an archive article published on February 3, 2019

In Pune, breast cancer is most common regardless of gender: Dr C B Koppiker

Noted oncologist Dr C B Koppiker talks to The Indian Express about the most common forms of cancer, how awareness can help in early detection and the government’s approach to reduce cost of treatment

4 min readPuneFeb 3, 2019 09:03 AM IST

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Early detection remains the key strategy to counter cancer incidence and mortality. (Source: File Photo)

As organisations and people across the world come together to raise awareness on World Cancer Day (February 4) and make cancer a global health priority, noted oncologist Dr C B Koppiker, also the founder of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, talks to The Indian Express about the most common forms of the disease, how awareness can help in early detection and the government’s approach to reduce cost of treatment

What is the data on cancer in India and Pune?

The latest WHO-GLOBOCAN data came out in October 2018. In India, approximately 11.57 lakh new cancer cases are detected per annum with 7.84 lakh deaths. India has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest cancer-associated mortality rates in the world. Data specific to Pune is not available in detail. However, according to the Pune Cancer Registry (a clinic-based registry), breast cancer is the most common type, regardless of gender.

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Have attempts to raise awareness led to a rise in the detection of cases. Which is the most affected age group?

Early detection remains the key strategy to counter cancer incidence and mortality. However, a lack of awareness among women about symptoms, screening modalities, breast self-examination (BSE) and/or routine mammographic screening leads to negligence, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment. However, at Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, several camps conducted for early detection have seen a rise in women keen to know more about the disease. The median age at first diagnosis of breast cancer in India is between 40 and 45. This is starkly different than the western population in which women get affected with breast cancer around mid-fifties. In India, many young and premenopausal women are affected whereas in the west, middle-aged, peri- or post-menopausal women get most affected.

Dr C B Koppiker

Which is the most common cancer in India among men and women?

The top five types that affect Indian population are breast (14 per cent), oral (10.4 per cent), cervix uteri (8.4 per cent), lung (six per cent) and stomach (five per cent), of all cases. As of 2011, prostate cancer was the most common form among males (about 28 per cent of all new cases) and breast cancer was the most common in females (also about 20 per cent of all new cases). The leading cause of death in both males and females is lung cancer, contributing to 26.8 per cent of all cancer-related deaths.

Apart from preventive aspects, are there new treatment modalities?

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Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are still part of the cancer clinical management drill. Both modalities also now focus on preserving the quality of life of the patients. Oncoplastic surgery, where breasts are saved in a manner that the aesthetics of the breast are improved, is becoming popular. Targetted therapeutic options are available in some variants of the disease; molecular oncology-based tests are becoming mainstream that allow tailor-made therapies based on the so-called personalised medicine approach. The high cost is a barrier.

Has the government helped in reducing cost of treatment?

Overall, several efforts have been made to bring down the cost of cancer treatment by reducing the cost of life-saving drugs. The government has floated patient-friendly policies where patients can avail the social-impact schemes to treat the diseases. Public private partnerships have been set up and national awareness and screening programmes for common cancers are expected to have an impact.

At Prashanti, several efforts have been undertaken to help prevent cancer. What are the future plans?

About 400 prevention awareness programmes were held last year. We have set up buses equipped with mammography machine and around 6,500 women were screened and six cases detected that demonstrates the impact of community screening. An MCH programme in oncoplastic surgery has been set up where breast surgeons across India and Southeast Asia are being trained. At the newly set up Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR – a joint initiative between Prashanti and IISER Pune), oncologists and molecular biologists are collaborating to gain new insights into breast cancer biology in the context of Indian population.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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