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Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020 – October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read here to learn more about breast cancer and why breast self-exam is important.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020: Early Diagnosis May Increase Survival Rates
HIGHLIGHT
- Breast cancer affects a large population of women today
- A lump in the breast is one of the most common signs of breast cancer.
- Women should do a regular breast self-exam.
It is the fear of having breast cancer that makes all women more aware and alert about screening. Most breast lumps (90%) are benign, only a few will turn malignant. But, to identify whether the lump is benign or malignant, all women need to do is undergo a breast self-exam and a screening mammogram if expert opinion is suggested. Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women and almost surpasses cervical cancer. The National Health Profile of India 2011 predicts that by 2020; Breast cancer will overtake cervical cancer as the most common cancer among women in India. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in urban areas in India, accounting for around 25% to 33% of all cancers in women. However, in Mumbai, it accounts for 28.7% of all cancers.
The lifetime risk of breast cancer in women is 1 in 8 in the US, while in India it is 1 in 30 in rural areas and 1 in 60 in urban regions. This is due to changes in lifestyle and other factors.
Currently, many do not opt for diagnosis or treatment because women are shy, they do not complain when they find a lump in the breast. This is the reason why they are mostly diagnosed very late or at an advanced stage. Combine this with the fact that more than 50% of breast cancer patients in India present at stages 3 and 4, which affects patient survival rates.
Today, the management of breast cancer requires a multimodal treatment option such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy, which in fact imply a huge cost for patients. Most of the time, cost is the key factor in delaying treatment.
To overcome the cost and late presentation crisis, the best modality is breast cancer prevention through a breast cancer awareness program for all age groups and breast self-examination (BSE) and expert consultation with screening modality. BSE can start at the age of 20 after the fifth day of the end of menstruation each month. As an assessment of the general population, the recommendation would be a mammogram after age 50 once every 2 years. For a high-risk woman, in addition to self-examination, it is recommended to seek expert help annually with a mammogram or MRI. The WHO says that there is significant evidence showing that mammography in the group of women aged 50 to 70 years reduces mortality by between 15% and 25%. Only awareness can reinforce the message that early detection of breast cancer can cure it completely.
(Dr. Sandeep Bipte, Surgical Oncology Consultant, Jaslok Hospital and Research Center)
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