The increasing incidence of breast cancer has become a global health crisis, increasingly affecting younger women. In March 2024, famous actress Olivia Munn (43 years old) revealed her battle with highly aggressive Luminal B breast cancer, which led to a double mastectomy. In India, Bollywood actress Hina Khan (36) was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Alarmed by this trend, experts are stressing the importance of regular health checkups and recommending annual mammograms to women over 30 to promote early detection and improve outcomes. Recommended.
Raising awareness among women about screening at a young age is one of the most effective measures to help combat this menace. Experts say that regular screening can detect so many breast cancer cases early that it not only has a high incidence but also is currently the most prevalent cancer among women in India. This would leave sufficient room for the country to respond better, he said. But also the mortality rate.
Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynecologist, Obstetrician, IVF Specialist, Nurture IVF Clinic “Raising awareness is important for early detection. It is recommended to perform a breast self-examination approximately 5 days after the cycle.For postmenopausal women, this examination can be scheduled on a specific day every month, given current trends. We found that all women should undergo a breast exam once a year by a trained physician. Importantly, it promotes early detection of breast cancer and ensures timely clinical intervention. This means that regular mammography should begin at age 30. Previously, annual mammography was recommended for women over 40.
According to ICMR’s National Cancer Registry Program Report 2020, cancer cases are expected to increase by 12% in India by 2025. According to current trends, the total number of cancer cases could rise to about 1.57 million by that year, including breast cancer. An estimated 200,000 cases, or 14.8% of all cases in women.
Dr Anshuman Kumar, Head of Surgical Oncology, Dharamshila Narayana Superspecialty Hospital Cases have been reported in unmarried women, often as young as 18 years old.” Stage 4. The increase in early-onset breast cancer can be attributed to multiple factors, including modern lifestyle choices and dietary habits. Processed and ultra-processed foods, especially when heated and consumed in plastic containers, release harmful chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can disrupt hormonal balance and pose cancer risks. It is known that Irregular diets and exposure to food adulterants, pesticides, and heavy metals further worsen the situation. ”
“Studies such as the Nurses’ Health Study have found a significant link between night shifts and increased breast cancer risk, especially when combined with the consumption of food heated in plastic. Environmental contamination will only increase the number of infections.However, one of the most significant gaps lies in the lack of early detection and screening, which is not yet mandatory in India, especially among women living in rural areas. This means that women are still unaware of the importance of regular mammograms, clinical breast exams and breast self-examinations to curb the alarming rise in breast cancer cases. It is important to raise awareness along with this,” Dr. Kumar added.
Dr. Amit Upadhyay, Senior Consultant, Department of Oncology and Hematology Oncology, PSRI Hospital, “Common symptoms of breast cancer include a breast lump, blood or straw-colored discharge from the nipple, recent nipple inversion, and nipple ulceration. or worsening, such as dimples or thickening of the skin, resembling the texture of an orange peel.
“After the mammogram, we do a needle biopsy to confirm that it is indeed breast cancer. This is not a complicated procedure and can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Patients with large lumps may be given an MRI or a PET-CT scan in conjunction with an ultrasound if there are signs that the disease has spread to distant organs, such as swollen glands in the armpits, or bone pain, difficulty breathing, or an enlarged liver. further evaluation may be required,” Dr. Upadhyay added.
Dr. Arun Kumar Giri, Director of Surgical Oncology, Aakash Healthcare, pointed out, For patients diagnosed in early stages (I and II), surgery is usually the main treatment option. However, in cases classified as locally advanced (Stage III), chemotherapy is often given first, followed by surgery and radiation therapy. ”
“Advanced stage breast cancer poses a major challenge for us, as treatment strategies are complex, especially when it has spread to different organs. Interventions include not only the primary cancer but also secondary cancer sites. A comprehensive approach is needed to address the condition, with symptom-specific interventions including surgery for ulcerated breast masses, radiation therapy for pain and bone-related issues, and effective pain management strategies. .The focus has now shifted to disease control, symptom relief, and improving patients’ quality of life,” Dr. Giri added.
Advances in imaging technology and radiation therapy have greatly enhanced the treatment of breast cancer, improving dose uniformity and conformity. These modern techniques also reduce radiation exposure to surrounding organs and represent a significant improvement over older methods.
Dr. Puneet Gupta, Head of Oncology at Asia Hospital, explained: “Chemotherapy typically consists of six to eight cycles given in a day care setting, with each cycle being 15 to 21 days apart. Hormone therapy is usually taken in pill form and usually lasts five years or more. In some cases, patients may require targeted therapy, which is usually given for about a year. This specialized treatment is designed to increase its effectiveness and provide a more personalized approach to care. It is designed to.
Experts stressed that increasing cancer awareness is essential to taking full advantage of medical advances. Despite significant advances in early detection and treatment, millions of people continue to die from this serious disease. By educating the public about these innovations and the critical role of early intervention, we can save countless lives and offer hope for improved outcomes in the ongoing fight against cancer. You can.
There are five types of cancer drugs (immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, biological therapy, and especially chemotherapy). Hormone therapy is the best and cheapest option for hormone-positive (ER-positive, PR-positive) breast cancer. For young women who are still menstruating, simply removing both ovaries may help.
Hormone therapy must be continued for several years. However, the use of chemotherapy continues to be integrated in multiple ways in locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent breast cancer, with or without breast surgery. The latest product of interest is an antibody-drug conjugate (a type of combined chemotherapy targeted drug) that is the only option for low-positive HER 1+, HER 2+ ISH-positive breast cancer types.
Immunotherapy has emerged as an important tool in the fight against triple-negative breast cancer, while targeted drugs like trastuzumab are essential for triple-positive HER 3+-positive cancers.
