Kidney Cancer Cases Rise by 25%, Smoking Among Youth Emerging as a Key Risk Factor: MOC Pune

Pune, 30th  March 2026: Doctors at MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre, Pune, have observed nearly a 25% rise in kidney cancer cases over the past five to six years, with lifestyle factors such as smoking increasingly being associated with the growing incidence.

One of the concerning observations is the growing prevalence of smoking among younger individuals, which may contribute to higher cancer risk later in life. According to data from the National Cancer Registry Programme, the age-adjusted incidence rate of kidney cancer in Pune is around 1.6 per 100,000 men and 0.8 per 100,000 women, indicating that the disease is steadily being reported in urban populations
Although smoking habits are commonly seen in the 20–40 age group, the disease typically manifests years later. Most patients diagnosed with kidney cancer fall within the 45–60 age group, and the condition continues to be more common among men than women.

Speaking about the trend, Dr. Tushar Patil, Head of Department, M | O | C Cancer Care & Research Centre, Pune, said,”Over the last five to six years, we have seen nearly a 25% rise in kidney cancer cases. One of the key contributing factors is smoking, which is increasingly seen among the younger population. However, malignancy usually develops years later, and most patients we diagnose are in the 45–60 age group. The majority of these cases are seen in men.”

Doctors emphasize the need for greater awareness about lifestyle risk factors, particularly smoking, along with regular health check-ups and timely medical consultation to aid early detection and better treatment outcomes.