Nepal’s Cancer Crisis

Nepal, along with the rest of the world, observed World Cancer Day last Wednesday. Marked annually on February 4, the day aims to raise awareness about cancer, emphasising prevention, early detection and timely treatment through a range of activities worldwide. The global campaign gained momentum following the adoption of the Paris Charter Against Cancer at the “World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium” held in Paris in 2000. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 10 million people died from cancer in 2020 alone, meaning one in every six deaths worldwide was attributed to the disease. Breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancers are the most commonly diagnosed types. Nearly one-third of cancer-related deaths are linked to tobacco use, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables and physical inactivity. In recent years, worsening air pollution has emerged as another major risk factor, particularly for lung cancer. The core message of World Cancer Day is clear: most cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively. More importantly, World Cancer Day poses a critical question each year—how prepared are we to fight cancer? While early diagnosis and effective treatment have significantly improved survival rates in developed countries, Nepal’s situation remains deeply concerning. According to 2022 data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), around 70 percent of cancer patients in Nepal die without receiving a timely diagnosis. The annual addition of 20,000–25,000 new cases and the death of 14,000–16,000 patients within a year highlight serious shortcomings in the country’s health system. Doctors attribute the high mortality rate primarily to the fact that 80–90 percent of patients seek medical care only at an advanced stage.