On World No Tobacco Day, cancer specialists have raised concerns over India’s growing oral cancer burden, warning that a majority of patients continue to seek treatment only after the disease has reached advanced stages.
Doctors at the Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India (HNCII), Mumbai, said tobacco remains the leading cause of oral and head-and-neck cancers. However, they are also witnessing an increase in cancers linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV-16 infections among younger patients.
Tobacco remains the biggest risk factor
An analysis of 5,135 cancer surgeries conducted at HNCII between August 2023 and December 2025 found that nearly half of all head-and-neck cancer cases were linked to tobacco use.
The study revealed that Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh accounted for more than 60 per cent of the surgical burden, reflecting the high prevalence of tobacco consumption in these states.
Experts noted that products such as gutka, khaini and cigarettes continue to be major contributors to the disease.
Late diagnosis remains a challenge
Doctors highlighted that only 19 per cent of patients were diagnosed during the early stages of cancer. More than one-fifth of patients had already progressed to Stage III or Stage IV by the time they sought treatment.
Dr Sultan Pradhan, Founder and Senior Surgical Oncologist at HNCII, said the biggest concern is not just the number of cases but the delay in diagnosis.
“These are cancers that are largely preventable, yet tobacco use continues to drive a significant proportion of cases,” he said.
Need for stronger awareness campaigns
Cancer specialists stressed the need for stricter tobacco-control measures, widespread screening programmes and greater public awareness to reduce the country’s oral cancer burden.
With early detection significantly improving treatment outcomes, doctors urged people to seek medical attention for persistent mouth ulcers, lumps, difficulty swallowing or other unusual symptoms.
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