World Cancer Day: India Gets First Evidence-Based Lung Cancer Care Guidelines - What It Means For the Patients?

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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released a landmark policy document titled Lung Cancer Treatment and Palliation: Evidence-Based Guidelines, marking a significant step in strengthening lung cancer care in India. It also aims to bring uniformity, scientific rigor, and patient-centricity to one of the country’s most challenging health burdens. Cancer cases in India are rising, with an estimated 1.4 to 1.5 million new cases annually as of 2023-2024, ranking it among the highest in the world. Breast, lung, and mouth cancers are most common, with incidence increasing in a major way. According to doctors, the key drivers include ageing populations, tobacco use, and lifestyle factors.

A major boost for lung cancer treatment

Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths across the world and in India. Late diagnosis, inconsistent treatment protocols, and limited access to specialised care have hampered patient outcomes. The newly released evidence-based lung cancer guidelines aim to address these gaps by providing a standardized national framework for diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. Developed by leading oncologists and public health experts along with medical researchers, the guidelines include 15 evidence-based recommendations that cover the entire spectrum of lung cancer management, which includes early and timely detection and clinical decision-making to advanced-stage treatment and end-of-life care.

Focus on patient and palliative care

Among the major highlights of the guidelines is emphasis on palliative care - an area often not prioritised too much in cancer treatment. The framework underscores the importance of holistic, patient-centered approaches, focusing not just on survival but also on quality of life, pain management, psychological support, and dignity of care, particularly for patients with advanced lung cancer. Union Health Minister JP Nadda has noted that the guidelines would play a crucial role in standardising clinical practices, reducing unwarranted variations in treatment, and improving lung cancer outcomes in India. He emphasised that evidence-based recommendations tailored to the Indian healthcare context would empower clinicians nationwide to make better, more consistent decisions.

Accessible and evidence-based treatment

The guidelines have been made publicly available on the Department of Health Research website to ensure widespread adoption. This move aligns with global best practices that recognise health literacy as a critical component of effective cancer care. As lung cancer cases continue to rise, health experts believe these guidelines could become a template for future cancer care frameworks in India, placing patients, evidence, and equity at the center of policy and practice.Also read: Modern Cancer Care Explained: How Robotic Surgery and New Therapies Preserve Quality of Life

Lung cancer in India

Lung cancer is a major health crisis in India, ranking as the top cancer among men and causing 8 to 9 per cent of all cancer-related deaths. More than 75 per cent of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, which leads to high mortality rates. Tobacco - specifically smoking - drives 90 per cent of cases, even though a significant portion of patients, particularly women, are non-smokers likely affected by biomass fuel exposure.