Dr Ragini Agrawal, W director of the Gurgaon Women’s Specialty Hospital, told us why the breast cancer awareness program carried out in the government’s polio eradication program is a demand for the hour. ((October is considered the world’s breast cancer awareness month. )
‘There may be life after breast cancer. The prerequisite is early detection. ” – Ann Jillian
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in women in India, accounting for 25-30% of all cancers in women nationwide. In India, nearly 80.000 women die from breast cancer every year, the highest in the world. Cancer can bring huge emotional and economic burdens to society. The latest study on breast cancer risk in India shows that 28 women have breast cancer throughout their lives. This is at a higher risk in urban areas (one in 22) compared to rural areas, where the risk is lower, with 60 women having lower risk.
Indian young woman at risk
Breast cancer is found in young women aged 30-40, and is usually seen in over 50 women in the West. In India, there has been a shift to young women over the past two decades – nearly 48% of patients are under 50 years of age. This is definitely a very disturbing trend. Almost 60% of patients are unable to survive due to diagnosis in stage 3 or stage 4. The disease in young women is aggressive and is usually insensitive to chemotherapy. Breast cancer awareness campaigns should serve as national plans such as polio so that survival rates after treatment are good in early stages, when the asymptomatic phase is still in phase 1, and after treatment.
Nearly 6% to 8% of breast cancers will be hereditary and will be sent to families. Your gene determines the risk of developing certain cancers due to changes in genetic material (called germline mutations) or DNA and susceptibility to cancer. If any member of your family has one cancer or another, it indicates that there may be susceptibility to cancer and you will fall into the high-risk category for cancer diagnosis. The key to early discovery is breast awareness program. Education, examination and screening tools such as mammogram and breast ultrasound. In addition to these screening tests, lifestyle modifications work.
Photo: Dr. Ragini Agrawal
7 Things to Beware of
-> Any lump in the breast. Although none of the lumps are cancerous, they should be evaluated.
-> Any changes in breast size
-> If the nipple are indented
-> Skin cracks
-> Blood discharged from the nipple
-> Changes in skin tone
-> Swelling under the armpit
