India’s five year breast cancer survival rate has improved to 65.7%, reflecting progress in cancer care, but it continues to lag behind high-income countries, according to new estimates published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the journal Nature Medicine. The findings underscore the need for stronger early detection programmes and improved access to quality cancer treatment.

The study estimates that women diagnosed with breast cancer in India between 2017 and 2021 had a 65.7% five-year survival rate, compared to the global median of 77.8%. Survival rates were substantially higher in high income countries (87.3%), the WHO Region of the Americas (88.5%) and the WHO European Region (84%), highlighting persistent disparities in cancer outcomes.

According to WHO, advances in screening, diagnostics and treatment have significantly improved breast cancer survival worldwide. However, delayed diagnosis, unequal access to specialised oncology services, financial barriers and treatment interruptions continue to affect outcomes in many low  and middle income countries, including India.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), more than 23 lakh new breast cancer cases are diagnosed worldwide each year, while in India it remains the leading cancer among women.

Healthcare experts said improving survival rates will require expanding early screening programmes, strengthening pathology and diagnostic services, increasing access to affordable treatment and raising public awareness about early symptoms. They also emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary cancer care and timely treatment, noting that breast cancer detected at an early stage has a significantly higher chance of successful treatment.

The WHO findings highlight India’s progress in breast cancer management while reinforcing the need for continued investment in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment to narrow the survival gap with developed nations.