#WeCanICan

BREAST CANCER Home / Childhood Cancer

Awareness

Over two-thirds of the world’s cancer deaths occur in economically developing countries.

The total cost of lost productivity due to premature cancer mortality in India was $6.73 billion, with breast cancer surpassing cervical cancer.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer representing nearly 25% of the cancers among women worldwide. The life time risk of breast cancer for females is about 12%.

In India, these cases are lower as compared to the developed countries like UK (25.8 vs 95 per Lac), but it is rising & the mortality is at par with them (12.7 vs 17.1 per Lac).

The reason cited for higher mortality are:

  • Lack of awareness.
  • No breast cancer screening & diagnosis of disease during advanced stage.
  • Unavailability of appropriate medical facilities in many parts of the country.

In our country, it is the most prevalent cancer in urban women, and the second most common cancer among rural women

The risk factors for breast cancer are:

  • Age, Female sex, Family history of breast or ovarian cancers.
  • OC Pills, Hormone replacement therapy.
  • Obesity, smoking, early menarche, late menopause, No breast feeding, nulliparity.
  • Symptoms
  • Prevention
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • A lump, nodularity or thickening in the breast
  • A lump in the armpit
  • Nipple discharge, including bleeding
  • Itchiness, scales, soreness or rash on nipple or areola
  • A nipple turning inward or inverted
  • A change in skin color and texture (dimpling, puckering or redness)
  • A breast that feels warm or swollen

Approximately a fourth of all patients give a definite family history. The inheritance patterns are now better understood, permitting appropriate risk reducing efforts towards prevention.

The incidence of Familial Breast cancers is around 10-15% of the cases.

The option of choosing prophylactic surgery should be available to the patient along with the choice of reconstruction.

Breast cancer is widely thought to be a life-style disease, related to diet, obesity, stress, habits & estrogen exposure.

Appropriate interventions could be beneficial, such as

  • Encourage breast feeding
  • Limit alcohol & quit smoking
  • Exercise daily

Despite opportunities for early diagnosis, a significant proportion of patients still present late in our country.

The management of breast cancer has evolved significantly over the last 25 years; from a disease that spelt universal mutilation and morbidity, we are today able to restore normal quality of life in the majority.

Recommendations:
Breast examination by trained clinician every 2-3 years beginning at the age of 20 years and annually after 40 years.

Screening Mammography (Age 45-75) advantages are:

  • Detects smaller tumors, hence unlikely to have nodal or systemic metastasis
  • More likely to be cured with breast conservation and sentinel node biopsy
  • Less likely to need chemotherapy
  • As the treatment needed is less, the morbidity is less & Quality of Life is better

Advances in surgical management have resulted in a paradigm shift in which Breast Conservation is possible and safe in a large number of patients with early cancer.

Wherever mastectomy is advisable, Breast Reconstruction is possible, safe and can be offered to restore form and body image.

Teamwork is essential. In all patients, multi-disciplinary treatment planning by Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncologists results in optimal outcomes. Rehabilitation has come to play a crucial role at all stages of treatment and survivorship

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