National Cancer Control Program(NCCP) was started in 1975 to serve the facility to cure cancer. The program was revised in 1984-85 with emphasis on prevention and early detection of cancer. National Cancer Awareness Day is celebrated on 7 November with the birth anniversary of Eminent scientist Madame Curie. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced in 2014 that 7th November will be celebrated every year as National Cancer Awareness Day in order to create awareness about early detection.

In India, about 1.1 million new cases are occurring annually. Of these, two-thirds of cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage, reducing the likelihood of patients surviving. It is estimated that a woman dies due to cervical cancer every 8 minutes in India. The use of tobacco (smoked and smokeless) in men and women in 2018 was attributed to 3,17,928 deaths (approx). Oral cavity and lung cancer deaths in men are 25%, while women breast cancer and oral cavity cancers have a mortality rate of 25%.

Union Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan started the first state-level movement on cancer control. On a specific day in each year, people were encouraged to report to government hospitals, CGHS and municipal clinics for free screening. Information booklets were widely disseminated to create awareness about cancer prevention and early onset symptoms.