A new medical study has sounded a stark warning for Punjab, a state grappling with the dual challenge of a rapidly ageing population and a high burden of cancer. The research underscores an urgent need for focused cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies specifically designed for the elderly, as the rising number of malignancies threatens to overwhelm the state's health infrastructure.
Punjab's Demographic Shift and Healthcare Implications
Punjab is ageing at a faster rate than most other Indian states. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023, 11.6% of Punjab's population is aged 60 years and above, ranking it fourth-highest among all states in terms of the share of elderly citizens. This trend, driven by longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates, has significant consequences for healthcare planning. At the other end of the spectrum, the share of young children (0-4 years) is among the lowest in the country at just 6%.
Experts point out that with age comes increased vulnerability to chronic diseases like cancer. The state, often dubbed India's "cancer capital," now requires robust cancer registries and age-specific intervention plans to address this demographic reality. The findings are based on a one-year retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, titled 'Cancer Prevalence in Elderly Patients: Tertiary Care Hospital Experience from Punjab,' published in the South Asian Journal of Cancer.
Breakdown of Cancer Cases Among Punjab's Elderly
The study analysed 608 cancer cases in elderly patients. It found that the majority, 499 patients (82.1%), were in the 60–74 years age bracket, while 109 patients (17.9%) were aged 75 and above. Overall, males constituted 53.6% (326 patients) of the cases studied.
The research revealed distinct patterns in cancer types across different age groups and genders:
In the 60-74 years group: The most common cancers were hematolymphoid malignancies (112 cases; 22.4%), followed by breast cancer (74 cases; 14.8%) and gastrointestinal cancers (59 cases; 11.8%).
In the 75+ years group: Hematolymphoid cancers remained prominent (31 cases; 28.4%), but cancers of the male genital tract showed a significant rise (22 cases; 20.1%). Gastrointestinal cancers (12.8%) and cancers of the lung and pleura (5.5%) were also notable.
Gender-wise analysis: Among men, hematolymphoid cancers were most frequent (29.7%), followed by male genital tract cancers (17.8%)—dominated by prostate cancer—and gastrointestinal cancers (12.9%). Among women, breast cancer was the leading malignancy (30.1%), largely invasive ductal carcinoma, followed by hematolymphoid cancers (16.3%) and cancers of the female genital tract (15.2%), with ovarian and uterine cancers being most common.
An Urgent Call for Geriatric Oncology Planning
The study, conducted by researchers Saloni Goyal, Parul Verma, Nishav Garg, Vikram Narang, Kunal Jain, Harpreet Kaur, and Bhavna Garg, concluded that the observed patterns highlight the complexity of cancer care for individuals aged 60 and above. The authors stressed that without dedicated planning, the rising burden of cancer among older adults will strain Punjab's health system.
They issued a clear call to action, emphasizing the need for expanded geriatric oncology services, improved training for healthcare professionals, better access to care, and multidisciplinary, individualized treatment approaches. Strengthening the field of geriatric oncology is deemed essential not only to improve survival rates but also to enhance the quality of life for Punjab's growing elderly population. The research makes it clear that a one-size-fits-all cancer strategy is inadequate, and policies must evolve to meet the specific needs of this vulnerable demographic.
