Hyderabad: Women accounted for nearly six out of every 10 cancer patients treated in Telangana over the last five years, according to the state's first-ever Cancer Atlas prepared using data from the Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Care Trust.
Cancer Atlas Findings
The report, titled Cancer Incidence and Prevalence Mapping Across Telangana, analysed cancer cases recorded between April 2020 and September 2025 and identified nearly one lakh cancer patients across the state. Of these, 59,994 — close to 60% — were women, while 40,300 were men, indicating a significantly higher cancer burden among female patients.
Prepared by oncologist and cancer advisor to the Telangana government, Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, the report was recently submitted to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Gender Disparities in Cancer Incidence
According to the findings, the annual cancer incidence among women was estimated at around 62 cases per one lakh female population, compared to 42 cases per lakh among men. The highest burden was observed among women aged between 39 and 48 years, followed by those above 62 years and women in the 49–55 age group.
The Atlas further revealed that women outnumbered men across almost all adult age categories, with the widest gender gap recorded among those aged 39 to 48 years. In this group alone, 15,198 women underwent cancer treatment compared to 8,318 men.
Common Cancers Among Women and Men
Breast and cervical cancers emerged as the primary contributors to the higher cancer burden among women in the state. Breast cancer treatment ranked among the most common oncology procedures for women, alongside cervical cancer therapies and brachytherapy.
Among men, the most common treatment categories included palliative cancer care, radical radiotherapy, blood cancers, and head-and-neck cancers. The report noted a substantial dependence on radiation and supportive care among male patients, while head-and-neck cancers remained particularly prominent, reflecting broader lifestyle-related risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption.
District-Wise Analysis
District-wise analysis showed that Hanumakonda recorded the highest cancer incidence in Telangana, with 79 cases per one lakh population annually, followed by Hyderabad at 72 per lakh and Karimnagar at 65 per lakh. Overall, 25 of the state's 33 districts reported cancer incidence rates above 45 per lakh population, highlighting the widespread nature of the disease burden across Telangana.
Expert Insights on Screening Deficits
Dr R Nivalika, consultant radiation oncologist at Yashoda Hospitals, said the higher recorded incidence among women was linked less to a sudden biological increase and more to severe screening deficits, which often result in patients reaching hospitals only after the disease has advanced.
"To prevent this growing burden, the state urgently needs more local screening centres and mobile diagnostic services so that breast and cervical cancers can be detected early, when they are easier to treat," she said.
Government Initiatives
Last year, the Telangana health department launched cancer daycare centres in 34 government hospitals across the state to provide screening, diagnosis, chemotherapy, and palliative care services.
Earlier this year, the Telangana Cancer Burden Profile-2026 released by the Indian Council of Medical Research showed that fewer than 4% of women aged 30 to 49 years had undergone cancer screening in the state, raising concerns over delayed diagnosis.
Breast cancer screening was reported at an extremely low 0.3%, while cervical and oral cancer screening stood at 3.3% and 2.5% respectively. The report also highlighted the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and anaemia, all of which can increase cancer risk.
