Hyderabad: The breast cancer rate in Hyderabad is the highest in India, with 54 in every one lakh women suffering from the ailment.
The city is closely followed by Bengaluru, where the number stands at 46.7 per one lakh.
This has come to light in the research conducted by the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The findings were recently published in the JAMA Open Network, a journal of the American Medical Association (AMA). According to the study, three other south Indian cities — Chennai, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram — figure in the top six, with the age-adjusted incidence rate (AAIR) of breast cancer here touching 45.4, 42.2 and 40.7, respectively.
AAIR is a measure used to compare disease rates across age groups and regions, helping experts understand how common a disease such as cancer, heart conditions, or diabetes is within a population.
Doctors attribute the high AAIR — both in Hyderabad and other cities — primarily to an urban lifestyle that leads to obesity, sedentary routines, high alcohol intake, early menstruation (menarche), late menopause, late childbirth and lack of breastfeeding. All of these, they say, increase the risk of breast cancer.
The study stated that 2.38 lakh individuals nationally were affected by breast cancer in 2024, making it the most common cancer among Indian women.
The rise in count in Hyderabad has been visible both at govt and private hospitals. Even women in the age group of 20 to 30 years are now reporting breast cancer, unlike in the past, say doctors. At Hyderabad’s MNJ Cancer Hospital, doctors see around 120 to 130 cases each month, which adds up to 1,500 to 1,600 cases annually. In addition, private hospitals receive hundreds of cases every month, while dozens of patients are seeking treatment at Osmania Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, and the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), they add.
“Earlier, we used to see 70 to 75 cases a month. Now the number has crossed 100,” Dr Mukta Srinivasulu, a senior oncologist at MNJ Cancer Hospital. She added, “There’s also a shift as cervical cancer cases are decreasing, while breast cancer cases are going up. Most patients come in with complaints of lumps or physical and emotional distress.”
While Dr Srinivasulu said that it is tough to ascertain the exact reason why Hyderabad leads the nation in breast cancer cases —especially since many urban areas have similar lifestyles— he reiterated that the rise in cases is evident across Telangana, and not just the capital city.
“This is mostly due to the sedentary lifestyle many people are now following,” said Dr Nivalika Rajamani, a senior oncologist at a private hospital, adding, “Hyderabad also is among the top few cities with the highest count of diabetes in India (ranks 4th), which is linked to breast cancer. Add to that the easy availability of ultra-processed and adulterated food, and it becomes a serious health risk. While rural patients still mostly come with cervical cancer, urban women are increasingly developing breast cancer. I personally treat about 10 to 12 cases each month.”
As cancer is not currently a notifiable disease in Telangana, hospitals are not required to report cases to a central database. Experts believe this has led to a gap in the national cancer data, as the current registry relies mainly on records from MNJ Cancer Hospital and NIMS in Hyderabad.
Notifiable disease soon
An official from the Telangana health dept said that the govt is planning to make cancer a notifiable disease in the coming months. “This move will help create more accurate databases, allow for better patient follow-ups, and improve policymaking and cancer control efforts across Telangana,” the official said.
