Late Diagnosis, Awareness Gaps Fuel Lung, Cervical Cancer Burden: Kolkata Oncologists

• Oncologists in Kolkata highlight that lung and cervical cancers are frequently diagnosed at advanced stages in India due to awareness gaps, lack of screening, and social stigma.
• Dr. Arunava Roy points to low HPV vaccination coverage, poor screening participation, and persistent social stigma as key reasons for late cervical cancer detection, advocating for school-based vaccination and community screening.
• Dr. Sandip Ganguly notes that misinterpretation of symptoms, often mistaken for common illnesses like TB or COPD, drives late presentation in lung cancer patients, even among non-smokers.
• Experts emphasize that vague symptoms, environmental factors like pollution, and the outdated notion that lung cancer is only a smoker's disease contribute to delayed diagnosis.
• Rural patients face compounded challenges due to limited infrastructure and specialist access, with tele-oncology and mobile screening units showing promise in bridging this gap.