PUNE: Breast cancer, which makes up 14 per cent of all newly diagnosed cancers is currently the most common cancer diagnosed in India. According to Globocan, 1.62 lakh women were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in India in 2018.
Speaking about the rise in breast cancer cases, Dr Shona Nag, renowned senior oncologist and Director of Oncology Department at Sahyadri Hospitals said that last year Pune had around 8,000 to 9,000 new cancer cases. Of these 1,300 to 1,400 were diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Around 2-3 decades ago, the incidence of breast cancer in India was low, that is, 15 per one lakh population. In metropolitan cities, it is now 35 per one lakh population. The reason for this rise is our westernised lifestyle and increasing obesity in the population,” said Dr Nag.
She was speaking ahead of the during the two-day, ‘A breast cancer survivors conference’, organised by Nag Foundation in association with Sahyadri Hospitals and Women’s Cancer Initiative - Tata Memorial at Yashada auditorium on Baner Road.
She added that simple things like self-breast examination and clinical breast examination are cost effective methods to diagnose breast cancer earlier.
“Mammography is not accessible to everyone. It is available in most major cities in India and women living in urban areas should be encouraged to do mammographic screening after 45-50 years of age. It brings down the mortality of breast cancer by 30 per cent by diagnosing breast cancer in stages 0 and 1,” said Dr Nag.
Speaking of whether breast cancer has a hereditary basis and can it be passed on to other family members, Dr Nag said that between 5 and 10 per cent of all breast cancers are caused by faulty genes which can be passed on to next generation.
“A simple blood test or cheek swab can be done to find out whether the patient carries the gene or not. Due to an explosion in technology, genetic testing for breast cancer is affordable. Today, we also have special drugs against this type of breast cancer. Hence, all women with breast cancer should have access to a genetic clinic,” said Dr Nag.
THE RISING MENACE OF BREAST CANCER
- Around 2-3 decades ago, the incidence of breast cancer in India was low, that is, 15 per one lakh population, said Dr Nag.
- In metropolitan cities, it is now 35 per one lakh population, she further said.
- Simple things like self-breast examination are cheaper methods to diagnose it earlier, she said.
