According to data from the ICMR–National Cancer Registry Programme, Tamil Nadu reported 98,386 cancer cases in 2024.
Published Dec 30, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 30, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis:As cancer cases rise in Tamil Nadu, patients from across the state travel to Chennai for specialised care concentrated at institutions like the Adyar Cancer Institute. With cases up 25% in a decade, gaps in decentralised treatment, insurance access, and early detection persist, placing emotional, financial, and physical strain on patients and families. This is South First’s third and final report examining the cancer surge in Tamil Nadu and the government’s response to tackle it.
Across Tamil Nadu, thousands of cancer patients travel to Chennai every month, seeking treatment that is simply not available closer to home. For many, the journey is long, exhausting, and deeply uncertain — but it remains their only path to care.
At the Adyar Cancer Institute alone, an average of around 550 patients are seen in outpatient departments every day, according to figures published by the institute.
When South First met 66-year-old Palanisamy Kuppusamy at the Adyar Cancer Institute, he was sitting quietly with his wife near the pharmacy counter, a large plastic shopper by his feet and a small cloth bag clutched in his hands.
From that bag, he pulled out a worn treatment booklet. On the very first page, a date was stamped in fading ink: 23-08-2022.
“That’s the day my cancer journey started,” he said, pointing to the line confirming his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Inside the same bag was his PM-JAY card, the national Ayushman Bharat card. But for him, it has meant little so far. “This card doesn’t work here,” he said. “We applied for the CMCHIS card. Only that will help us. Still waiting.”
According to officials, in Tamil Nadu, the national Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM‑JAY) is implemented together with the state’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) under an integrated model, providing up to ₹5 lakh in coverage per family annually.
While a single card may reference both schemes, hospitals in the state process cashless claims only through the CMCHIS platform, and patients must have their details activated in that system before they can access benefits.
Palanisamy and his wife have travelled from Salem and now stay for weeks at a time at the Mohan Devi Heerachand Nahar Rajasthani Dharamshala, a free lodging facility near the hospital. Their days pass in a loop — from the tiny room to the hospital ward, from the ward back to the room.
“Most days, we live only between here and there,” he said with a tired smile.
Hospital data suggests Palanisamy’s journey is far from unusual. The Adyar Cancer Institute indexes around 5,000 new cancer patients for treatment every year, many of whom travel to Chennai from other districts in Tamil Nadu due to limited access to specialised cancer care closer to home.
According to data from the ICMR–National Cancer Registry Programme, Tamil Nadu reported 98,386 cancer cases in 2024, rising from 78,512 in 2015 — a nearly 25 percent increase over a decade.
This makes Tamil Nadu the highest-burden state in South India, ahead of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana.
While a part of this rise reflects a genuine increase in cases, better reporting and improved detection capacity also contribute to the higher figures.
Much of the state’s cancer data is drawn from the Tamil Nadu Cancer Registry Project (TNCRP), a population-based registry run by the Adyar Cancer Institute that tracks cancer incidence across districts.
While the registry reflects improved detection and reporting across Tamil Nadu, comprehensive cancer treatment facilities — particularly radiotherapy and specialised oncology services — remain concentrated in major cities like Chennai, compelling patients to travel for care.
Inside the Adyar Cancer Institute, this routine is repeated in hundreds of ways. Packed corridors, people resting on floors, families eating quick meals between appointments — the rhythm of the hospital runs on patience, endurance, and hope.
The pressure is visible daily, with the institute operating with 545 inpatient beds while outpatient departments see hundreds of patients every day.
Among them is Subbamal from Tiruchy, visiting the hospital for eight months now. Her daughter described the day-to-day struggle to the South First: long-distance travel, unpredictable schedules, waiting for hours, and the emotional toll of not knowing how each day will unfold.
“Sometimes the treatment goes smoothly, other times we have to wait a lot. We can’t say this system is 100 percent convenient for us,” she said. They too stay at the same dharamshala, trying to make the long visits manageable.
The hospital also has an additional 131 semi-occupancy beds, spread across general wards, special wards and children’s wards. A significant portion of these beds are offered free or at subsidised rates
For Dr S Subbiah, Vice President of the Indian Association of Surgical Oncology, the scenes at Adyar Cancer Institute are tightly connected to the systemic changes unfolding across the state.
“Cancer is a disease of modernisation and westernisation,” he told South First.
“Economic growth, industrialisation, and urbanisation over the past four decades have contributed to higher cancer rates.”
He pointed out that industrial growth has increased pollution in many parts of the state, compounding cancer risk, while Tamil Nadu’s stronger health infrastructure ensures more accurate reporting than states where underreporting is common.
Two decades ago, he recalled, cancer specialists were limited to a few cities — Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore. “Today, from Dharmapuram to Kanyakumari, most districts have surgical oncologists,” he said. Oncology seats have grown from fewer than six to nearly 40. “We have gone ahead, but there is still more to achieve.”
He added that nearly one-eighth of Tamil Nadu’s population lives in Chennai, driving congestion and pollution. “Decentralising industries, offices, hospitals — this is essential. Prevention takes decades. If you start now, it will take another 40 years to reflect.”
Since its founding in 1954, about 1.65 lakh patients have received cancer-directed treatment at the Adyar Cancer Institute, underscoring Chennai’s long-standing role as a referral hub for cancer care in the state.
Vijay Shankar Ramachandran, a journalist who faced thyroid cancer firsthand, brings a unique perspective to the challenges of navigating the healthcare system in Tamil Nadu.
He recalled how his cancer was initially hard to detect — What started as a minor discomfort — a subtle difficulty in breathing — quickly became a journey of uncertainty and endurance.
Initially, he and his doctors attributed the symptom to weight or mild health issues, a misstep common when early signs of cancer are subtle.
After multiple consultations, scans, and careful evaluations, he was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, one of the most treatable forms of thyroid cancer.
His treatment involved major surgery, including trachea reconstruction, followed by radioiodine therapy requiring strict dietary restrictions and temporary isolation.
The process was long and stressful for his family, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges patients face, even in urban hospitals.
Vijay’s reflections emphasize the importance of early detection, mental resilience, and patient awareness. He also noted disparities between urban hospitals and district-level access, and the need for patients to navigate complex information, schemes, and treatment pathways.
His insights echo the lived realities seen at Adyar: cancer care is as much about endurance and awareness as it is about medical treatment.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
