Globally, the prevalence of cancer among the young is rising, and Nepal is no exception to this global trend. According to oncologists at Chitwan’s BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, with the increase in cancer cases in recent years, the number of young cancer patients in their late 20s and early 30s has also spiked. In fiscal year 2024-25 alone, the hospital recorded more than 210,000 cancer patients compared to 138,000 in 2023-24. Of the total cases in the previous fiscal year, over 7,000 were new ones. Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO), paints a more alarming picture: Annually, an estimated 1,200-1,600 children in Nepal are diagnosed with cancer in Nepal. Meanwhile, their survival rates stand staggeringly low at only 20–30 percent.

Cancer, which was rare among young people in the past and was mostly diagnosed in those in their 50s (or older) in Western countries, is now being detected in people in their 30s and 40s in Nepal. Besides genetic factors, sedentary lifestyle, junk foods, tobacco and alcohol consumption, air pollution, obesity and pesticide-laden fruits, crops and vegetables are the main culprits. As a result, over the years, the prevalence of breast and lung cancer has become more common than cervical cancer; lung, liver and stomach cancers are observed mostly in men. Incidents of nose, ear, throat and colon cancers have also notably risen.

Developed countries that once grappled with high mortality rates from cancer successfully reduced deaths by focusing on prevention, awareness, early detection and supportive care through accessible treatment facilities. However, like most developing countries, Nepal fails in diagnosing and treating the disease at an early stage. There are not enough healthcare facilities that provide specialised cancer treatment. Even as the government of Nepal prioritised free screening for cervical cancer at state-run health facilities in its 2023-24 annual policy and programme, the initiative hasn’t materialised due to limited budget.

There is also a lack of awareness about the disease, due to which many people seek treatment at a very late stage—the third or fourth—requiring advanced treatment. The chances of survival are low when the diagnosis is delayed. The distance of hospitals providing cancer treatment compounds the problem for poor families, discouraging many from seeking treatment. Out-of-pocket treatment with only a little government insurance also forces them to quit treatment.

These circumstances point to the need to establish cancer hospitals in every province and to make cancer care more affordable for all. Focusing on preventive measures is just as vital; the WHO says up to four in 10 cancer cases are preventable. For instance, this is possible when preventable causes such as tobacco and alcohol consumption are avoided, air pollution is mitigated and physical exercise is prioritised. The Nepali government’s effort to prevent cervical cancer by incorporating the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine in the routine immunisation list and decision to jab girls aged 10 years as well as providing cancer patients with Rs100,000 from the federal and provincial government each, is laudable. But it must also ensure that these measures reach those in need and on time.