In a major step toward improving men’s cancer care in India, the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has launched MenCan, a dedicated initiative by its Urologic Oncology Disease Management Group (URO DMG). This nonprofit, non-commercial program focuses on prostate, penile, and testicular cancers—three male cancers witnessing a steady rise in incidence nationwide.
“The MenCan initiative represents a vital step in raising awareness and enhancing care for male cancers,“ said Dr. Vedang Murthy, Professor of Radiation Oncology at TMC. “Our goal is to promote early detection and empower patients to make informed decisions.”
Singer Shaan Becomes Brand Ambassador of MenCan Initiative
Singer Shaan has been announced as the brand ambassador of the ‘MenCan’ initiative. Speaking at the launch event, Shaan shared a personal health scare from 2020: “I had some issues related to my prostate, and after undergoing tests, a few doctors suspected it could be cancer. That moment was extremely stressful.” He added that further investigation revealed it was a false alarm, but the incident changed his perspective. “Now, I make sure to get regular medical checkups,” he said. Through the MenCan campaign, he hopes to raise awareness about men’s health and encourage timely medical screenings.
Alarming Rise in Male Cancers
According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) 2022, India is projected to witness approximately 41,736 new cases of prostate cancer by 2025, with a growing burden also observed in testicular and penile cancers—estimated at 4,640 and 11,264 new cases respectively.
Alarmingly, India also has the highest incidence of penile cancer globally. These cancers, though often under-discussed, have a profound impact on men’s health and quality of life.
Prostate cancer, typically affecting men aged 50–64, is increasingly detected at an advanced stage in India, with nearly 40–50% of cases being metastatic at diagnosis. In contrast, testicular cancer, which generally affects younger men, has a high survival rate if detected early. Penile cancer remains a major concern in the Indian context, especially in urban areas with a high age-adjusted incidence rate.
At TMC, the rising trend is clearly evident, with new prostate cancer diagnoses increasing from 700 cases in 2021 to 900 in 2023. The hospital also treats approximately 150 cases of penile cancer and 250 testicular cancer cases each year. Despite this burden, male cancers remain under-discussed, with many men hesitant to seek timely medical care.
MenCan’s Holistic Approach
The MenCan initiative is structured around several key focus areas: awareness and education, prevention and early detection, patient support and advocacy, survivorship and rehabilitation, and research and development. Furthermore, MenCan has introduced India’s first patient campus navigation app to assist those visiting the ACTREC campus and is building a social media presence to extend outreach.
To ensure sustainability and scale, MenCan is working towards expanding its services across all Tata Memorial Centres in India.
