Incidence of breast cancer rising in urban, rural areas

Mumbai: In India, breast cancer has the highest incidence in urban and rural areas, which also increases the death rate. Timely screening and diagnosis, regular breast self-examination, and prompt treatment can help one to beat breast cancer.

Breast cancer has become a common cancer amongst women. It is seen when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. There are various types of breast cancers. The symptoms are a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, changes in the size, shape of a breast, and changes in the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, inverted nipple, peeling, scaling, of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin and redness or pitting of the skin over the breast. Various factors can lead to the risk of breast cancer, and increase mortality and morbidity rates.

Dr Meghal Sanghavi, Breast Onco Surgeon, SRV Hospital, Chembur, said, “Breast cancer is not only limited to older women. Nowadays, many young women in their 30s or 40s are getting diagnosed with it. Earlier in India, one in 21 women was diagnosed with breast cancer. One out of eight women abroad is detected with it. The causes behind the spike in breast cancer cases are late marriages, smoking, late menopause, obesity, age, delayed pregnancies, absence of breastfeeding, lack of screening, skipping mammograms, and breast self-examination.”

Dr Sanghavi shared important precautions against breast cancer and said “Mammography after 40 on a yearly basis will help in early detection and can reduce the number of deaths with breast cancer. One will not require chemotherapy or radiation therapy if the cancer is detected at an early stage. Regular breast screening by breast specialists, and organizing breast screening camps can aid in creating awareness regarding breast cancer. Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise daily, quit smoking and alcohol, breastfeed, and maintain a healthy weight. Timely screening can save your life.”