Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast cancer is India’s leading cause of cancer in women, followed by cervical cancer. Together they account for 39.4 per cent of the total cancer cases in women in India in 2020, according to the National Cancer Registry Program report by National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research. The report includes the data from the 28 Population-Based Cancer Registries across the country.
As per the research available, a few factors, including aging, obesity, alcohol consumption, hereditary etc., increase the risk of breast cancer. In 2020, more than two lakh women in India were estimated to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 76,000 deaths were reported as per the estimates. As per the 2020 National Cancer Registry Program Report, the number is expected to rise to more than 2.3 lakh cases in 2025.
Hence screening programs are very important from an early age both for women with pre-existing risk factors and even for women without risk factors.
- Approximately 50% women reporting cases of breast cancer are between the age of 35-50 years.
- Pandemic induced hesitancy to visit hospitals, have increased the percentage of women reporting advanced stages of breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, it accounts for almost 30% of the entire cancer burden reported among women. With limited awareness and hesitancy towards preventive diagnosis, 1 in every 20 women is diagnosed with this cancer.
With various misconceptions and lack of awareness regarding early diagnosis of breast cancer and related treatment, there has been a spike in the number of cases of breast cancer, among women between the ages of 35 to 50 years.
It is perhaps due to this lack of awareness that most women in India get diagnosed with the breast cancer at its advanced stages and thus have to undergo all the related treatment modalities that are both physically and mentally challenging.
The reasons for early age occurrence are varied and imprecise. It could be faulty genes inherited from parents, or history of breast or ovarian cancers in the close family. Certain lifestyle choices also contribute towards the risk of developing breast cancer in young women such as limited or lower amount of physical activity and increasing obesity and smoking.
Excessive consumption of alcohol and oral contraceptives also have debatable association with increased risk of breast cancer in younger women. As a reason, women are highly advised to be watchful towards their sedentary lifestyle patterns and any newly observant signs of a breast cancer like a lump, discharge or discoloration of breasts.
An early detection can save a woman from undergoing chemotherapy, losing her breast and hair and experiencing related serious manifestations of the disease. Hence, there should be an increased awareness on the breast cancer along with a guided behavior for adequate weight management and correct diet and exercises with a self-responsibility of taking frequent self-examination and screening mammograms.
Due to pandemic induced hesitancy to visit hospitals a lot of women have delayed treatment or ignored early sign and symptoms, hence adding to the evident spike in cases.
The best solution for this is to avail basic screening programs at home as a part of one’s annual calendar. This being Breast Cancer Awareness month, Apollo Home Care has ensured that trained female nurses can visit you in the privacy of your house to teach and perform breast screening to check for any growth or lumps, any other abnormal formations or growth. You can call 1800 102 8586 to book an appointment with our nurse for this program. We can also arrange for a virtual consultation with our doctor for any queries you may have on breast cancer screening.
Stay safe, stay aware!
