Self-examination of the breast after periods and consulting the doctors to examine any persistent lumps, which may appear in the breast and do not pain, can prove to be pivotal in preventing breast cancer, Prof V Seenu, Department of Surgical Discipline said while speaking to DTMT in the sidelines of a breast cancer awareness programme held at Delhi-AIIMS.

According to available data, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women in India. It is the most common cancer in most cities and the second most common in rural India.
The data further reveal that breast cancer accounts for 25% to 32% of all female cancers in all cities across India and one woman in the country is diagnosed with breast cancer every 4 minutes.

During the event, the doctors expressed concern over the rise of the deadly disease in the country. They pointed out that one cannot prevent breast cancer but can increase the survival rates by remaining informed and choosing the right treatment at right time.

Pointing out that the number of cases of cancers is rising fast, Dr Seenu said that one breast cancer is diagnosed every two minutes in the United States.

It may be noted that the treatment of breast cancer is very advanced which includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy.

He added that detection of cancer in the early stage is essential which not only reduces the side effects of the treatment but it also decreases the cost of the treatment.  

Explaining about available treatments, Prof Seenu further said, “There is an advancement in the treatment but it is most effective in the early stage. Ultrasound and mammograms can detect breast cancer.”

“We (AIIMS) have done many studies and published research papers on breast cancer. These studies emphasise on early detection of breast cancer which can improve the recovery rate,” Dr Seenu informed.

“Early detection and the advancement in the treatment can ensure that there are fewer chances of removing the entire breast but the removal of small tissue can detect it,” he asserted.

“I mean to say that not every patient needs breast removal. Such patients have to be administered radiotherapy after that they can be treated with medicines, which have lesser side effects along with being effective,” he added.

“We want to spread awareness and we advise self-examination of breasts. The biggest problem in breast cancer is that it does not cause pain in the lump. The attitude of common women is to ignore the lumps (that may appear in the breast) which do not cause pain. Women, who have a lump in their breast, should consult their doctors, even if the lumps are painless. There are other symptoms of breast cancer but by the time they manifest themselves, cancer reaches an advanced stage,” Dr Seenu pointed out.