Rising incidence of breast cancer in young women ‘under 40’
Karnataka along with Tamil Nadu, New Delhi, and Telangana are among the four states of India where the highest number of cases of female breast cancer are being registered. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Center for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) study, breast cancer in women is the primary cause of female mortality in India, which is responsible for 13.5 percent of new cancer cases and 10.6 percent of all cancer deaths.
Bangalore hospitals expressed concern and said that in the last five years, there has been a hundred percent increase in breast cancer cases in women aged 20 to 40 years. Breast cancer affects women aged 40-60 years the most, while today it is being diagnosed rapidly even in young women below 40 years of age.
Dr Madhupriya, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Vanagaram, Chennai said that women are being diagnosed with breast cancer every 4 minutes in India – raising awareness and encouraging early detection is the need of the hour, which can save countless lives.
Dr Geetha Kadayaprath, Senior Consultant, Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centre (Delhi) while speaking to Dr Anubha Jain during an interview said that the number of new breast cancer patients under the age of 40 in hospitals is increasing alarmingly. It is a complex interplay involving women’s lifestyle, genetics, and environment. Speaking on the rising cases of breast cancer, Dr Geetha said that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing mainly due to lifestyle changes. She said that fear of cancer is a common concept in humans.
According to statistics, about 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic. Still, lifestyle factors such as shared dietary habits, inactivity in families, delayed childbirth, lack of breastfeeding, sedentary habits, obesity, and poor diet are the factors that are contributing to the increase in breast cancer cases in young women more than genes. Also, hormonal therapy for infertility and post-menopausal treatments are increasing the risk of breast cancer. According to Dr. Geeta, with the advent of new techniques in cancer treatment over time, cancer survival rates have also improved. The incidence of breast cancer in young women is double in India i.e. 15-20 percent, whereas in Western countries it is half i.e. only 7 percent. Lifestyle changes should include physical activities and selecting the right food from the right source because today pesticides are being used excessively which are knowingly or unknowingly served in our food. Expressing concern, Dr. Geeta said that unfortunately, 60 percent of the total cases of advanced cancer stage 1 and stage 2 have been reported in India today, which is a matter of concern. This number is increasing due to India’s growing population, lack of awareness, and lack of breast cancer screening protocols.
According to hospital data, 50 breast cancer cases are being seen per month in women under 40 years of age, which is more than 25 cases five years ago. Dr. Bharat G., Consultant Surgical Oncology Fortis Hospital, said that they see 20-25 breast cancer cases every month in women aged 20-40 years, whereas this number was 10 five years ago.
Most diagnoses happen when patients present with symptoms. The prevalence of stage four cases in India may be higher than in Western countries. This highlights the silent nature of breast cancer, as many women delay diagnosis because they do not feel pain or visible symptoms.
Dr. Geeta believes that women should start breast self-examination at the age of 21 to identify abnormalities early. She says that starting at the age of 40, annual screenings, ultrasounds and mammograms are essential for early detection before a lump forms.
Apollo Cancer Centre in Chennai organized the “Men in Pink Walkathon” to encourage women to make breast cancer screening a priority in their lives, detect it early, and support the cause.
Breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, overtaking cervical cancer. Yet, despite many awareness efforts, about 90 percent of women still hesitate to work on their breast health.
Concluding, Dr. Geeta said, “I have treated women with stage 4 cancer who had very little chance of survival. But the ones I operated on 18 years ago, whose breasts were completely engulfed by tumors, are completely healthy today. Imaging showed that the tumor had completely disappeared after the treatment. Her body responded well to the surgery and medication because she was optimistic about herself.”
