Unseen Epidemic, Millions of Indians Are Haunted by the Threat of Cancer

Key Findings from the Report:

– 60% of respondents reported moderate to extreme worry about developing cancer.

– 33% expressed significant concerns over the financial burden of cancer treatment.

– 24% feared death as a result of cancer, underscoring its perception as a terminal illness.

– 70% had not undergone any form of cancer screening in the past five years, despite awareness of its importance.

– 56% worried about environmental factors like pollution and radiation contributing to cancer risks.

– 27.6% expressed anxiety related to poor lifestyle choices such as smoking and unhealthy diets.

In a startling revelation, GOQii, a smart-tech-enabled preventive healthcare company, has unveiled its 2024 Cancer Report, exposing a shocking and pervasive crisis: an overwhelming fear of cancer that grips more than 60% of the Indian population. Titled “Living in Fear: The Hidden Epidemic of Cancer Anxiety Among the Public,” the report reveals a nation consumed by dread, where the spectre of cancer looms large over every demographic, transcending age, gender, and socio-economic barriers.

The GOQii Cancer Report 2024, based on a comprehensive survey of over 1,250 individuals and insights from a user base of over 5 million on GOQii’s Smart Health Ecosystem app, presents an unsettling picture. Despite growing awareness about cancer, a staggering 70% of respondents admitted they had not undergone any form of cancer screening in the past five years, highlighting a dangerous gap in proactive health management. This report calls for urgent public health interventions to bridge this gap and provide greater access to preventive care, especially in underserved regions of India.

For many Indians, cancer anxiety is not just a fear of the disease itself but a terror of the devastating financial toll it could take on their families. A significant 33% of respondents expressed deep concern over the crippling financial burden a cancer diagnosis could impose. The costs of treatment—spanning diagnostics, surgery, chemotherapy, and long-term medication—are often prohibitive, threatening to push families into financial ruin. This financial fear is a significant driver of the chronic stress and anxiety pervasive across the country.

Addressing the escalating challenge of cancer concerning modern lifestyle changes, Dr Anurag Agrawal, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health, Dean of BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University shared his insights: “As longevity increases, particularly when accompanied by unhealthy living, the risk of cancer, unfortunately, rises as well. It has become imperative that we focus on promoting preventive measures and fostering healthy habits to address this growing concern.”

Luke Coutinho, a Holistic Lifestyle Coach- Integrative Medicine, emphasizes the transformative power of a comprehensive approach to health in combating cancer-related fears: “Cancer comes with the weight of fear, but knowledge, science, lifestyle medicine and epigenetics integrated with honest allopathic medicine, early screening and detection can change all of that …now is the time to awaken and make the change with faith, belief, action and science”.

Stressing the critical need to address this hidden epidemic, Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO of GOQii says: “Cancer fear and anxiety is for real, and it’s affecting millions of people across India in ways that go beyond physical health. People are living in constant fear of not only the disease but also the potential financial and emotional toll it could take on them and their loved ones. This report serves as a wake-up call. We need to shift our focus to prevention, early detection, and providing people with the right tools and resources to manage both their health and their anxiety.”

The report also sheds light on the paralyzing fear of death that haunts many Indians, with 24% of respondents fearing cancer as an inevitable death sentence. This fear is exacerbated by the late detection of cancer, often due to inadequate screening and delayed diagnosis, leading to a perception of cancer as an incurable, terminal illness. The report calls for a drastic overhaul of India’s healthcare infrastructure to prioritize early detection and ensure equitable access to cancer treatment, particularly in rural areas where healthcare resources are severely limited.

Environmental and lifestyle factors are also at the heart of cancer anxiety. Over half of the respondents (56%) are alarmed by the risks posed by pollution, radiation, and other environmental carcinogens, while 27.6% attribute their anxiety to poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking and unhealthy diets. Despite these concerns, many are not taking the necessary preventive steps—like regular screenings or lifestyle changes—that could significantly lower their cancer risk.

Rajashree Menon – CBO Digital Health GOQii, says, “The GOQii Health Ecosystem supports cancer patients by integrating preventive care with treatment, screening, and post-treatment rehabilitation. We aim to reduce the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis by empowering patients throughout their journey, providing seamless care that enhances confidence and improves outcomes”

The GOQii Cancer Report 2024 goes beyond mere statistics, delving into the psychological turmoil experienced by millions living under the constant shadow of cancer fear. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are rampant, with the report advocating for the integration of mental health support into cancer care programs. Providing psychological counselling and stress management resources is crucial to alleviating the mental burden borne by those haunted by the fear of cancer.

GOQii is also one of the partners with Universal Health Token (UHT), an initiative designed to promote and incentivize healthy living, and unites the technology and healthcare industries, signifying a change in the approach to health and well-being. The UHT rewards integrate a data-centric approach, empowering users with deep insights and valuable analysis to enhance their well-being and take charge of their health journey. This approach forms the bedrock of an immersive user experience, merging technology and preventive care to foster a healthier, more fulfilling life.

“The Universal Health Token helps alleviate cancer anxiety by encouraging preventive care. By rewarding healthy behaviours and regular screenings, we aim to reduce the fear and burden associated with cancer,” says Agasta Samat, Director – Force of Good Foundation.

In closing, the 2024 GOQii Cancer Report sounds like a clarion call for urgent and comprehensive action. The pervasive fear of cancer has ensnared millions, creating a profound psychological, financial, and social burden. Through robust public health strategies, enhanced access to preventive care, and the integration of mental health support into cancer care, India can begin to unravel the unseen epidemic of cancer anxiety that is silently eroding the well-being of its people.