Prof Rath speaks about the challenges faced trying to reduce the number of preventable cancer cases in India. The majority of these, 45% of the three million cancer cases being treated at any one time, are tobacco related. A major obstacle for Indian oncologists is that 80% of cancer cases are presented an advanced stage and consequently treatment success rate is low. Prof Rath speaks about the Indian national cancer control programme which aims to prevent preventable cancers such as tobacco related cancers and cervical cancers, to detect cancers earlier and to improve treatment facilities.