Eight-fold rise in head & neck cancer cases in 4 yrs: RCHRC

Ranchi: The Ranchi Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (RCHRC) has reported 663 head and neck cancer cases among both men and women in 2025-26 financial year, up from 80 in 2022-23 financial year -- an over eight-fold increase over the past four years.

Doctors on Saturday, the eve of World No Tobacco Day, attributed the alarming rise primarily to the growing consumption of tobacco and nicotine-laced products over prolonged period.

RCHRC director and senior radiation oncologist, Dr Gautam Kumar Sharan, said, "Head and neck cancer, along with breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal malignancies, is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer cases at RCHRC.”

“Head and neck cancers are among the commonest cancers seen in eastern India and Jharkhand is no exception. The primary reason behind this surge remains high tobacco consumption, particularly smokeless tobacco. Products like khaini, gutkha, tobacco-lime mixtures, pan with tobacco, and smoking habits are deeply prevalent across both urban and rural populations. Alcohol consumption further amplifies the carcinogenic effect of tobacco,” he said.

“Head and neck cancers are more common in men because tobacco and alcohol use are significantly higher among men, especially in working-age groups involved in labour-intensive occupations, mining, transport, industrial work, and rural occupations. But we are also increasingly seeing female patients with oral cancers, often linked to smokeless tobacco use, passive smoke exposure, poor oral hygiene, nutritional deficiencies, and delayed healthcare access. In rural and economically weaker sections, women frequently ignore early symptoms due to family responsibilities and social barriers, resulting in delayed diagnosis,” he said.

Surgical oncology consultant (head and neck) at RCHRC, Dr Sachender Pal Singh, said, “Head and neck cancers constitute a significant proportion of commonly encountered cancers in the region. Clinically, tobacco exposure remains one of the major associated risk factors. In male patients, chewing tobacco products such as gutkha, khaini, and other smokeless tobacco preparations are commonly reported, along with smoking in some individuals. Among female patients, use of smokeless tobacco products is also observed in certain sections of the population. Many patients report long-standing tobacco exposure, often beginning at a young age, along with limited awareness regarding early symptoms and harmful effects. The late detection and realisation of cancer due to social, educational, and financial factors also remains a challenge in several patients.”

“The early initiation of tobacco use among adolescents and young adults, remains a major concern and it needs strong awareness campaigns, school-based education, tobacco cessation support, and community-level preventive interventions, to curb the number of cancer cases in the state.”