Breast cancer shows 23 % rise: Study

EHM News Bureau - Bangalore

While breast cancer has risen by 23 per cent, cervical cancer has dropped by 19 per cent, reveals a study conducted covering over 6,700 patients in the city of Bangalore. The results of the study was revealed at ‘Viva for Eva’ Breath Cancer Summit organised by AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd, which had participation from over 75 leading oncologists across India.

Medical oncologist Dr Govind Babu said, “Cancer of the breast, once considered a disease of the western world, is becoming a major problem in our country. Statistics show that the incidence of breast cancer is rapidly increasing in urban areas and has overtaken cancer of the cervix as the number one cancer in our major metros. “

He added that some women often postponed treatment because they believed it would interfere with their family responsibilities, others did it as they feared loss due to chemotherapy. “However, the situation is improving due to newer treatment options like hormone therapy,” he added.

Prof Dr Jack Cuzick, head of the centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and statistics at Cancer Research, London cautioned that breast cancer has reached epidemic proportions with 1.3 million cases worldwide. “Hence there is a need to think about the treatment as diagnosis and prevention,’’ he added

To reduce chances of breast cancer, experts recommended that women should reduce their fat intake, increase the use of healthy food, reduce snacking and exercise more, especially if they come from high-risk families, where a mother or sister below the age of 50 has breast cancer.