Four out of 10 cancer cases in Karnataka related to tobacco use, Kidwai data shows
Nearly four out of every 10 cancer cases reported in Karnataka are linked to tobacco use, the state’s Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) estimated ahead of Sunday’s World No Tobacco Day.
According to the data, the estimated incidence of new cancer cases in Karnataka in 2025 was 88,813, of which 35,839 cases, or 40.4%, are believed to be tobacco-related. Tobacco use was responsible for 10,004 of the estimated 22,583 cancer deaths in 2025, accounting for 44.3% of all cancer deaths.
Higher in men
The burden is significantly higher for men. Of the 39,371 estimated new cancer cases in 2025 among men in Karnataka, 20,652 cases (52.5%) are linked to tobacco use. Among women, 15,187 of the estimated 49,442 cancer cases (30.7%) are related to tobacco.
Data from the Kidwai Hospital Cancer Registry underscores the scale of the problem. Of the 13,391 cancer cases treated at the institute in 2025, 6,740 cases (50.3%) were linked to tobacco. Among male patients, nearly six in 10 cancers (59.4%) were tobacco-related, while the corresponding figure for females was 42.3%.
Can be prevented
Naveen T., director of Kidwai (another charge), told The Hindu that tobacco continues to be one of the leading preventable causes of death and disease. In addition to oral, lung, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancers, smoking is associated with heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, and several reproductive health complications.
Dr. Pointing out that Karnataka has made progress in reducing tobacco use over the years, Naveen cited data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) which revealed that 8.8% of adults in the state use tobacco, which is lower than the national average of 28.6%. However, tobacco use remains high among men, with 16.8% reporting some form of tobacco use, compared to 0.7% among women.
In Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, tobacco is estimated to account for 6,368 of the 15,693 new cancer cases expected this year. Tobacco-related cancers are also estimated to contribute to 44.6% of all cancer deaths in the city, the doctor said.
The most common tobacco-related cancers seen in men in Bengaluru are lung, mouth and tongue, while lung, mouth and esophageal cancers predominate in women.
In addition to cancer, tobacco use also contributes to several other serious health conditions including heart disease, respiratory disease, sleep disorders, bladder disorders, impotence in men.
For women, tobacco use is associated with menstrual irregularities, stillbirths, low birth weight and an increased risk of cervical cancer, said Dr. Naveen.
This year’s theme
“This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, ‘Revealing the Appeal – Combating Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction’ seeks to draw attention to marketing tactics that promote tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people,” he said.
“Stronger awareness campaigns, early detection programs and sustained tobacco control measures are essential to reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases in the state. Since most tobacco-related diseases and deaths are preventable, we urge the public to avoid tobacco in all its forms,” the doctor added.
Published – 30 May 2026 21:58 IST