Breast Cancer Survival Rates in India

Breast cancer has ranked number one cancer among Indian females with age adjusted rate as high as 25.8 per. 100,000 women and mortality 12.7 per 100,000 women. Data reports from various latest national cancer.

What makes me WORRIED about the trend of breast cancer in India?

Let me explain this to you in as simple language as possible. Breast cancer is a global disease. Though the majority of underlying causes, and other features are usually uniform around the world, every region has its own uniqueness for that cancer.
I will discuss in the following headings:

• Increasing incidence of BC in younger age groups
• Rising numbers of cases of breast cancer in India
• Late presentation: This directly decreases long term survival of the patient
• Lack of awareness and Screening: Breast Awareness (Being aware about symptoms of BC, looking out for them regularly, and reporting them on time to a doctor) is the single most important factor responsible for better survival of patients in the west
• Aggressive cancers in young: Generally, many cancers in the younger age group tend to be aggressive

Late presentation and decreased survival India

Consider the adjoining image. This was published by ISCO(Indian Society of Clinical Oncology) in 2009, and shows the improvements in the overall five year survival for various cancers in India

Breast cancer survival rate in India

The details of ISCO article cited above, can be found HERE . If you see, the over all 5 year survival for breast cancer has increased from 75% in 1970's to almost 89% presently. This means that, out of every 100 women with breast cancer in India, 89 women are likely to survive for atleast 5 years. There are barely any similar statistics for India available, but a rough estimate from the PBCR and HBCCR reports is that, this figure is not even more than 60%. The most important reason being lack of awareness about breast cancer and screening of the same; more than 50% patients of breast cancer present in stages 3 and 4, and outcome is not as good as earlier stages, however aggressive the treatment may be. The western nations have achieved a steadily improving and good survival mainly because of screening of breast cancer.

Also Read:- Top 10 Cancer Hospitals in India

Fast Facts on Breast Cancer:

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.
• Symptoms include a lump or thickening of the breast, and changes to the skin or the nipple.
• Risk factors can be genetic, but some lifestyle factors, such as alcohol intake, make it more likely to happen.
• A range of treatments is available, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
• Many breast lumps are not cancerous, but any woman who is concerned about a lump or change should see a doctor.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

The first symptoms of breast cancer are usually an area of thickened tissue in the breast, or a lump in the breast or in an armpit.

• An early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the chance of recovery.
• An early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the chance of recovery.
• Other symptoms include:

1. a pain in the armpits or breast that does not change with the monthly cycle
2. pitting or redness of the skin of the breast, like the skin of an orange
3. a rash around or on one of the nipples
4. a discharge from a nipple, possibly containing blood
5. a sunken or inverted nipple
6. a change in the size or shape of the breast
7. peeling, flaking, or scaling of the skin on the breast or nipple
8. Most lumps are not cancerous, but women should have them checked by a health care professional.

July 17, 2019