Apollo Cancer Centre & Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Launch ‘ZERO TO HERO’ Campaign to Champion Stage Zero Cancer Detection

Chennai, February 09, 2026: Building on the global momentum around World Cancer Day, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai and Apollo Proton Cancer Centre have launched the ‘ZERO TO HERO’ campaign to raise awareness about Stage Zero cancer detection and its critical role in improving survival and recovery outcomes.

Cancer incidence in India continues to rise sharply, with over 15 lakh new cases reported in 2024, as per ICMR–NCRP data presented in Parliament. With one in nine Indians now facing a lifetime risk of cancer, the disease has emerged as a major public health challenge. Alarmingly, over 70% of cancers in India are diagnosed at advanced stages (III or IV), when treatment becomes more complex, outcomes are poorer, and the financial burden on families is significantly higher.

As part of the ‘ZERO TO HERO’ campaign, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai and Apollo Proton Cancer Centre hosted an expert-led interaction focused on the life-saving potential of early cancer detection. Moderated by Dr. Ayyappan, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology, the session featured a multidisciplinary panel comprising Dr. R. Srivathsan (Consultant – Uro-oncology & Robotic Surgery), Dr. P. Venkat (Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology), Dr. Asha Reddy (Consultant – Breast Surgery), Dr. Ajit Pai (Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology), Dr. Senthil Kumar A. C. (Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology), and Dr. Senthil Kumar Ganapthi (Senior Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology).

The panel emphasized that detecting cancer at its earliest stages allows for simpler treatment, better survival rates, and improved quality of life—reinforcing the campaign’s core message that early diagnosis offers the strongest path from cancer to recovery.

Responding to these concerning trends, the ‘Zero to Hero’ initiative spotlights the transformative impact of Stage Zero detection and timely intervention, turning what could be a devastating diagnosis into a story of survival. The campaign celebrates individuals who acted early and emerged as heroes through awareness, access, and prompt medical care. While cancers vary across types—such as brain, breast, head and neck, lung, pancreas, and liver—the common thread among survivors is early diagnosis, underscoring that catching cancer early truly saves lives.

Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director – Group Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, said, “Early detection is not just a medical priority—it is a systems priority. Data consistently show that early-stage cancers have significantly higher disease-free and overall survival compared to late-stage diagnoses. At Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai and Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, we strive to move beyond treatment to prevention and early detection. Identifying cancers early strengthens our registries, accelerates care pathways, and enables more patients to transition from diagnosis to survivorship, shifting cancer care from reactive treatment to proactive control.”

Mr. Karan Puri, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre & Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, added, “Cancer does not begin at Stage Three or Stage Four—it begins quietly, often before symptoms appear. The ‘Zero to Hero’ campaign is about changing the narrative 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 patients can return to normal life sooner. This initiative empowers people to act early, ask questions, and seek care without fear—because the earliest diagnosis gives the greatest chance not just to survive cancer, but to live fully beyond it.”

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