The Union government has formally acknowledged a troubling surge in lung cancer among non-smoking women, especially in India’s major urban centres. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said official data now shows that adenocarcinoma accounts for nearly 53% of lung cancer cases in non-smoking women across the country. The figures are drawn from studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR).
Adenocarcinoma is widely recognised as the dominant form of lung cancer among people who have never smoked, making the statistics presented in Parliament especially alarming. Jadhav cited findings from the NCRP study titled “A clinico-epidemiological profile of lung cancers in India”, which also documented a steady and significant rise in lung cancer cases in metropolitan regions between 1982 and 2016. While the report does not quantify the extent to which women are exposed to air pollution, researchers have repeatedly pointed to poor air quality as a major contributing factor in non-smoker lung cancer.
The minister also addressed ongoing concerns about delayed diagnosis. Lung cancer and tuberculosis share several overlapping symptoms, often leading to misdiagnosis or late detection. Under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, new protocols now ensure that anyone screened for TB but displaying symptoms that raise suspicion of lung cancer is immediately referred to a higher-level medical facility. The programme further classifies cancer patients as “vulnerable,” ensuring more frequent monitoring and earlier investigation of warning signs.
To expand access to specialised treatment, the Centre is supporting the creation of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs). These facilities receive financial assistance of up to ₹120 crore and ₹45 crore, respectively, under a cost-sharing formula of 60:40 between the Centre and most states. For northeastern and mountain states, the ratio is 90:10. So far, 39 centres—19 SCIs and 20 TCCCs—have been approved across the country, marking a significant expansion in tertiary cancer care infrastructure.
Responding to MPs who raised concerns about toxic air in cities and its possible link to rising lung cancer cases, Jadhav outlined measures underway under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Launched in 2019, NCAP targets 130 non-attainment and million-plus cities across 24 states and UTs, aiming to reduce particulate pollution levels through coordinated local, state and national action plans. The initiative involves urban local bodies, pollution control boards, and the Central government working jointly to reverse the long-term deterioration of urban air quality.
Together, the minister’s statements highlighted a growing public health challenge: a form of lung cancer increasingly affecting women who have never smoked, driven by environmental exposure and diagnostic delays, and necessitating stronger surveillance, cleaner air and wider access to specialised cancer care.
