New Delhi: Breast cancer, a disease long associated with older age groups, has increased dramatically among women under 50 over the past three decades, experts say.
Breast cancer in India
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects women around the world as well as in India.
Recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed that breast cancer accounted for 28.2 per cent of cancers in women.
Celebrities like Sonali Bendre, Tahira Kashyap and Mahima Chaudhry, who battled breast cancer before the age of 50 and overcame the deadly disease with treatments.
Dr Ashish Gupta, Head of Medical Oncology at Unique Hospital Cancer Centre, which is spearheading the Mukt Bharat anti-cancer campaign in India, said: “Cancer is no longer a disease of the elderly. It is increasingly seen among “The early onset of breast cancer is mainly due to genes, lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, consumption of highly ultra-processed foods and a completely sedentary lifestyle, added to environmental pollutants, he stated.
According to a recent study by Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, cancer affects around 20 percent of young people under 40 years of age in India and breast cancer cases affect 15 percent of younger adults.
Most common type of cancer
Early-onset risk factors include genetic predisposition to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, obesity, excessive consumption of sugar and processed foods, consistently high blood glucose, and insulin resistance, said Dr. Gupta.
Early detection and timely treatment of breast cancer have a significant impact on the life expectancy of those affected. Improving and making screening procedures more accessible is crucial, he said.
Gupta, an American board-certified medical oncologist, said, “Early detection programs, including breast cancer awareness and cost-effective screening, are imperative to fight the rising cases of breast cancer in India.”
He also assured that people should not panic once diagnosed with the disease, as there are currently many advanced treatments available that improve survival rates.
Dr Vineet Nakra, Senior Radiation Oncologist, Max Hospital-New Delhi and Director, Lenus Institute of Oncology, said, “Breast cancer is increasing in younger women due to a gradual change in lifestyle choices, including late motherhood, reduced breastfeeding, and poor dietary choices among the urban population.” “With increased focus on breast preservation and its cosmetic importance in the younger population, radiotherapy plays an essential role.” after a cancer diagnosis,” he said.
“Breast cancer treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Treatment can vary depending on the stage and type of breast cancer,” Dr. Nakra said.
Recently, IIT Indore has developed a compact device for early detection of breast cancer in India, especially among women in rural and remote areas, at an “incredibly” affordable cost.
The official said that this device, developed by Professor Srivathsan Vasudevan of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology ( IIT ) Indore, aims to save the lives of patients by detecting breast cancer in its early stages.
With PTI inputs
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