India Needs More Awareness To Prevent Mortality Through Breast Cancer
Dr. Rohan Khandelwal, Breast Cancer Surgeon, CK Birla Hospital For Women, 0
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among patients suffering from cancer worldwide. Breast cancer among Indian women is the highest worldwide. There is an increase in the trend of new cancer patients, and the age group of new patients coming annually has gradually dropped from <55 years to under 40 years of age. As per the data recorded in ICMR 2018, over 1.5 lakh new breast cancer patients have been recorded in India last year.
In India, one in twenty-five people is diagnosed with breast cancers annually which as compared to developed countries like the US/UK is less where one in eight patients are diagnosed annually. However, due to the fact that awareness among the developed countries being quite prominent, such a high number of cases are diagnosed and treated in early stages and hence the survival rates are better. When considered the Indian scenario the survival rates are quite low due to the high population ratio and low awareness. One out of two diagnosed die within the next five years which attributes to 50 percent mortality rates. Many patients in the urban are diagnosed at stage two when the T2 lesions are palpable lumps but in cases of rural areas, these lesions are diagnosed only after they transform into metastatic tumours.
Globally, seven percent of the population under the age of 40 years is suffering from breast cancer, whereas in India, the rate is double i.e.15 percent. And out of which one percent of the patients are male, which put together has the highest count of breast cancer patients from India globally. Apart from being hereditary, many other risk factors like sedentary lifestyle, bingeing on alcohol, smoking, increasing obesity among youngsters stress and poor dietary intake have been attributed to increasing in the incidences of breast cancer among the young Indian women. According to a study conducted by NCBI 2016, vegetarian women are 40 percent less vulnerable to breast cancer.
Why we have More Advanced Cancers?
The grades and stages of breast cancer in Indian patients are higher as compared to other countries. Even among the literate population who resort to curative rates and opt for alternative treatment options. Many misconceptions and lack of awareness regarding chemotherapy or mastectomy surgeries keep them away
from getting treatment on time and they opt for alternative medicines. Initially, such treatments are luring for the patients but as the stages grow and are beyond their control patients opt for allopathic treatment. Such conditions prevent them from getting timely treatment.
Early Diagnosis is the Key to Treatment
Over the last decade, even though there is a rise in the incidence of breast cancer, but with awareness, access and changing paradigms in cancer care, the mortality rate has come down gradually.
Even though symptoms may not be persistent while diagnosing and sometimes screening may be done at early stages which may require different treatments and therefore the specialist may prescribe the best suitable treatment. Though treatment for breast cancer has undergone major break throughs, its cure and treatment solely depend on the grade and stage at which it has been diagnosed. Based on this, you will be advised to undergo one of these treatments, or a combination: Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy (targeted therapy). The doctor will consider the following while deciding the treatment –
•The stage and grade of cancer(size and area spread)
•Overall Health(Co-morbidities)
•Time of menopause
There are two main types of breast cancer surgeries:
•Breast Conserving Surgery: where the surgery is performed to only remove the cancerous lump called a tumor. Depending on the type size and amount of tumor, the surgery ranges from lumpectomy(removal of the tumor with little surrounding tissues) or partial mastectomy. Usually, post-surgical radiotherapy is offered to destroy any remaining cancer cells is as successful as total mastectomy in treating early stage breast cancer.
•Mastectomy: surgery where the whole breast is surgically removed. With the advancement in science and technology, a mastectomy can be followed by reconstructive surgery to recreate a bulge to replace the removed portion of the breast.
Reconstruction can be carried out at the same time as a mastectomy(immediate reconstruction), or it can be carried out later(delayed reconstruction). It can be done either by inserting a breast implant or by using tissue from another part of your body to create a new breast.
Awareness should be created among the masses to get most breast cancers detectable at early stages, as most women with breast cancer arrive with advanced disease. In metastatic or advanced stages of cancer, it isn’t completely curable, and the treatment aims to achieve remission(where the tumor shrinks or disappears).
In India, Less Population Is Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Compared To Developed Countries Like The US/ UK Where One In Eight Patients Is Diagnosed Annually
Early Diagnosis is the Key to Treatment
Over the last decade, even though there is a rise in the incidence of breast cancer, but with awareness, access and changing paradigms in cancer care, the mortality rate has come down gradually.
Even though symptoms may not be persistent while diagnosing and sometimes screening may be done at early stages which may require different treatments and therefore the specialist may prescribe the best suitable treatment. Though treatment for breast cancer has undergone major break throughs, its cure and treatment solely depend on the grade and stage at which it has been diagnosed. Based on this, you will be advised to undergo one of these treatments, or a combination: Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy (targeted therapy). The doctor will consider the following while deciding the treatment –
•The stage and grade of cancer(size and area spread)
•Overall Health(Co-morbidities)
•Time of menopause
There are two main types of breast cancer surgeries:
•Breast Conserving Surgery: where the surgery is performed to only remove the cancerous lump called a tumor. Depending on the type size and amount of tumor, the surgery ranges from lumpectomy(removal of the tumor with little surrounding tissues) or partial mastectomy. Usually, post-surgical radiotherapy is offered to destroy any remaining cancer cells is as successful as total mastectomy in treating early stage breast cancer.
•Mastectomy: surgery where the whole breast is surgically removed. With the advancement in science and technology, a mastectomy can be followed by reconstructive surgery to recreate a bulge to replace the removed portion of the breast.
Reconstruction can be carried out at the same time as a mastectomy(immediate reconstruction), or it can be carried out later(delayed reconstruction). It can be done either by inserting a breast implant or by using tissue from another part of your body to create a new breast.
Awareness should be created among the masses to get most breast cancers detectable at early stages, as most women with breast cancer arrive with advanced disease. In metastatic or advanced stages of cancer, it isn’t completely curable, and the treatment aims to achieve remission(where the tumor shrinks or disappears).
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