Social inequalities in cancer with special reference to South Asian countries

Abstract

There are major differences in cancer burden across socioeconomic classes, as is evident from the data for cancer incidence and mortality from Greater Mumbai, India. Changes over time are also evident and recently there has been a clear shift to increasing breast cancer particularly in well-educated women, who conversely are at much lower risk of cervical cancer. With infection-related and tobacco-related cancers, programs of prevention and early detection will yield desirable results only if it is associated with a program directed towards elimination of poverty, illiteracy and restoring social inequality. Similarly education must play a role in combatting diet-related neoplasia but here the target population may differ, requiring a specific awareness of psychological profiles.