Experts at Park Hospital Mohali raise alarm over rising head and neck cancer cases in India; link surge to tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and lifestyle choices.
Chandigarh:
On the eve of Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day, a press conference was held at Park Hospital, Mohali on Saturday. Addressing the media were Dr. (Brigadier) Harinder Pal Singh, Director of Medical Oncology, Dr. Vijay Jagad, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, and Dr. Jobanjeet Kaur, Consultant, Radiation Oncology. The experts shared vital information and alarming facts about head and neck cancer in India.

Dr. Harinder Pal Singh revealed that over 3 million people in India are currently living with cancer, with 1.4 million new cases every year. Alarmingly, 910,000 people die from cancer annually in India. Speaking on head and neck cancers specifically, he emphasized that lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, betel nut chewing, alcohol consumption, and poor oral hygiene are the major contributors.
Dr. Singh stressed that prevention through lifestyle changes and avoiding tobacco is critical. He also noted that India is considered the head and neck cancer capital of the world, highlighting the need for early detection and awareness.
Park Hospitals is North India’s largest super-specialty hospital network, comprising 19 hospitals, 3,500 beds, 800 ICU beds, 14 cath labs, 45 modular OTs, and over 1,000 doctors.
Dr. Vijay Jagad shared that India reports the highest number of oral cancer cases worldwide, with 175,000 new cases annually. About 90% of these cases are linked to chewing tobacco and gutkha.
Explaining further, Dr. Jagad said, “Head and neck cancer usually begins in the throat, neck, larynx, mouth, or sinuses, typically originating in the cells of these areas.”
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Dr. Jobanjeet Kaur highlighted how advancements in minimally invasive surgeries, organ-preserving techniques, radiotherapy, and medical oncology have significantly improved treatment outcomes by reducing morbidity and mortality.
Ashish Chadha, Group CEO-North of Park Hospitals, stated that Grecian Park Hospital in Mohali is the first in the Tricity to offer comprehensive cancer care under one roof. Patients from Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Karnal, Kaithal, Solan, and Shimla are benefiting from these services.
He added that Park Hospitals is now empanelled with the governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, ECHS, CGHS, Ayushman Bharat, and major TPAs and corporates for cancer treatment.