Surge in Cancer cases in TN sparks demand for decentralized Care & State fund

chennai: a sharp rise in breast, cervical, and oral cancers across tamil nadu has prompted public health experts to urge the creation of a dedicated cancer care fund and improved access to diagnostics and treatment in rural areas.according to the tamil nadu cancer registry programme (tncrp) 2020 report, the state is projected to witness over 88,000 new cancer cases by 2022, with chennai, coimbatore, and madurai emerging as hotspots. nearly 47,000 of these cases are expected among women, with breast and cervical cancers accounting for 44% of female diagnoses. in men, oral, stomach, and lung cancers are most prevalent, many tied to preventable lifestyle factors.experts are calling for a dual strategy: enhanced preventive awareness and expanded access to advanced therapies. “the tncrp data is a wake-up call,” said dr. b suresh kumar, medical oncologist, kauvery hospital. “decentralized care, ai-driven screening, and public-private partnerships are crucial to addressing this burden—particularly in rural tamil nadu.”with most cases reported in the 35-64 age group, the rising burden directly threatens the state's working population. experts suggest mobile screening units, ai tools, and trained community health workers could significantly improve early diagnosis.mridu gupta, ceo of caped (cancer awareness, prevention and early detection) india, stressed the importance of grassroots engagement. “these numbers are not just statistics—they represent caregivers, breadwinners, the backbone of families. cancer devastates households. we must take screening and education directly to communities,” she said.gupta also called for greater integration of cancer therapies into schemes like ayushman bharat. “coverage must go beyond treatment. timely diagnosis, referrals, and community-led behaviour change communication are essential for impact.”the report underscores an urgent need for tamil nadu to scale up cancer prevention and care across all regions.