News Hungama:
Kolkata, 11 February 2026: Building on the focus around World Cancer Day globally, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata have launched the ‘ZERO TO HERO’ campaign to drive greater awareness around Stage Zero Cancer detection and enabling better survival and recovery.
Cancer cases in India are rising sharply, with over 15 lakh new diagnoses reported in 2024, and numbers continue to increase each year, according to ICMR-NCRP data presented in Parliament. With one in nine Indians now at lifetime risk, cancer has emerged as a pressing public health concern. Yet, over 70% of cases are identified only at late stages (III/IV), when treatment is tougher, outcomes are poorer, and the financial strain on families is significantly higher.
In response to the alarming trends, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata’s Zero to Hero campaign spotlights the life-changing impact of Stage Zero detection and early intervention, turning a diagnosis into a story of survival. The initiative celebrates individuals who took timely action and emerged as heroes through awareness, access and prompt care. Though each cancer is unique (brain, breast, neck, lung, pancreas, liver, etc.), but these survivors are united by early diagnosis. Their collective journeys underscore the importance of catching cancer early: it can save lives.
Mr. Rana Dasgupta, CEO, Apollo Hospitals Eastern Region, said, “Early detection is not just a medical priority—it is a systems priority. The data consistently show that early-stage cancers have markedly higher disease-free survival and longer median survival compared to late-stage diagnoses. At Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, we constantly strive to move beyond treatment to prevention and early detection. Recognising these cases early strengthens our cancer registries, enables faster care pathways, and helps more patients transition from diagnosis to survivorship. This approach has the potential to transform cancer care from reactive to proactive cancer control.”
Mr. Surinder Singh Bhatia, Director – Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals – Eastern Region, said, “Cancer does not begin at Stage Three or Stage Four, it begins quietly, often before symptoms appear. At Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, the ‘Zero to Hero’ campaign is our way of shifting the conversation from late-stage rescue to early-stage wins. When cancer is detected at Stage Zero or Stage One, treatment is simpler, outcomes are stronger, and lives return to normal sooner. This campaign is about empowering people to act early, ask questions, and come forward without fear. Because the earliest diagnosis gives patients the greatest chance not just to survive cancer, but to live fully beyond it.
Dr Shaikat Gupta, Director & Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Dr Supratim Bhattacharyya, Consultant, Surgical Oncology, and Dr Vikash Kumar Agarwal, Consultant, Surgical Oncology, of Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, said in unison, “Every day, we see the difference early detection makes. When cancer diagnosed in its earliest stages, treatment is often less invasive, more effective, and survival rates improve significantly. But when diagnosis is delayed, the journey becomes far more complex. Early intervention not only improves survival but also preserves quality of life. That is why awareness, regular screening, and prompt care are so important—because the sooner we act, the better the outcome.”
Dr Joydeep Ghosh, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, said, “At the heart of the ‘Zero to Hero’ campaign is a simple truth—the real hero is the patient. When individuals prioritise awareness, undergo regular screening, and seek care at the earliest signs, they give themselves the strongest chance to beat cancer. As medical oncologists, we see firsthand than an early intervention can truly change the course of the disease, turning what could be a life-threatening diagnosis into a story of recovery and hope.”
Dr Tanweer Shahid, Director and Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, said, “Radiation therapy is most effective when cancer is identified early. Modern imaging has transformed how we diagnose cancer. At Stage Zero or Stage I, we can often target the tumour with highly focused treatment, reduce the need for extensive surgery or chemotherapy, and achieve better long-term outcomes. Campaigns like Zero to Hero highlight why timely diagnosis is as important as advanced technology in improving survival and quality of life.”
Ms Mili Mondal, One of the cancer heroes at Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, proudly said, “When I was diagnosed, the word ‘cancer’ itself was terrifying. But catching it early changed everything for me. My treatment was more manageable, my recovery was faster, and most importantly, I never felt like my life was put on hold. Today, I look back and realise that listening to my body and seeking help early made me a survivor, not a statistic. Initiatives like ‘Zero to Hero’ remind people that cancer doesn’t always have to mean fear or loss; it can mean hope, if you act in time. Early detection gave me the chance to focus on living, not just fighting, and that made all the difference.”
