Cancer and stigma: Present situation and challenges in India

Abstract

India is going through a significant epidemiological transition with the rising of chronic diseases such as cancer. An accompanying aspect is social stigma and negative perceptions regarding cancer. This not only affects cancer care and treatment but also puts a strain on prevention efforts. It is particularly worrisome in a low- and middle-income country like India with low levels of health literacy and the lack of access to cancer care. There have been attempts by the government and positive changes toward mitigating stigma, but a lot needs to be done to address this issue. The family and the community need to be significant players in synergy with the health system in the efforts to minimize the stigma in cancer.