Study links 4.3mcancer deathsin 2023 tomodifiable risk factorsNEW DELHI: The incidence of cancer in India has gone up by 26%, from 84.8 per 1 lakh population in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023, according to a new study. Published in The Lancet, it shows deaths due to cancer increased by 21% during this period, despite advances in treatment.In comparison, both incidence and mortality have declined significantly in US and China over the 33-year period. "Behavioural risk factors contributed to the most cancer deaths across all country income levels in 2023, especially tobacco use which contributed to 21% of cancer deaths globally. Tobacco was the leading risk factor in all country income levels except low-income countries, where the leading risk factor was unsafe sex (linked to 12.5% of all cancer deaths)," the study said.A parliamentary committee report tabled in 2023 suggested raising taxes on tobacco products in India to make them less affordable. "A day in a month may be fixed for cancer screening on the lines of reproductive and child health," the parliamentary committee suggested.