Lifestyle Habits Can Be A Factor In Driving The Rise of Cancer Cases In India

Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 09:01 IST

Making small lifestyle changes like quitting tobacco and alcohol, eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress and going for regular screenings can prevent cancer.

Timely management of cancer is key to successful outcomes.

Cancer cases are increasing rapidly across India. Did you know? Daily habits, right from what we eat to how we live, tend to play a pivotal role in raising cancer risk across age groups.

We speak to Dr Supriya Bambarkar, Director of the Department of Cancer and Consultant Oncosurgeon, AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, who highlights the risk factors that might be causing cancer.

There is a sharp rise in cancer cases, including breast cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, and liver cancer in India. Moreover, a large number of patients get diagnosed at an advanced stage, and this can increase the cancer burden. Factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, stress, addictions, and environmental exposure can be the causes of cancer.

Symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, long-lasting cough, unusual lumps, bleeding, fatigue, or changes in bowel habits are often ignored, leading to delayed diagnosis, which can impact the quality of life. Timely management of cancer is key to successful outcomes. Lifestyle-related cancers include lung, oral, throat, breast, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, cervical, and stomach cancers. It is time to focus on your lifestyle and reduce the risk of cancer.

These are some of the risk factors for cancer

• Tobacco use (smoking or chewing) is the biggest cause of oral, lung, and throat cancers.

• Excessive alcohol consumption can put you at risk of liver, breast, and digestive cancers.

* An unhealthy diet high in fried, processed, and red meat foods can cause colon cancer.

• Low intake of fruits and vegetables, leading to a lack of protective antioxidants, can also invite bowel, stomach, and pancreatic cancer

• Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can cause breast and lung cancer.

• Obesity is linked to breast, uterine, and colon cancers.

• Exposure to pollution and toxic chemicals can cause lung cancer

• Unsafe sexual practices increase the chances of HPV-related cancers like cervical, anus, penile, and vulva.

• Ignoring regular health check-ups and early warning signs of cancer is also a strict no-no.

Understand that lifestyle changes such as quitting tobacco, eating fresh and balanced food, staying active, managing stress, limiting alcohol, and going for regular screenings can prevent cancer. Don’t wait anymore, get going, keep cancer at bay, and stay healthy.