Breast cancer rates have shown an increasing trend in every state of India. Karnataka records approximately 14,484 new breast cancer cases and 5,388 breast cancer-related deaths in the year 2023 and this increasing trend is likely to continue unless we create awareness in the society. Breast cancer in men although rare, it accounts to 0.5-1% of all breast cancer cases.
The non-modifiable risk factors for breast cancer include age more than 50 years, genetics and family history, although currently, there is a slight increasing trend among women under 50 years due to various other reasons. Other contributing factors that can be modified include obesity, alcohol intake, consumption of hormonal prescriptions, breast-feeding, age of childbirth and age of menstruation. Delaying childbirth after 35 years and starting menstruation before the age of 12 years may slightly increase our risk of breast cancer.
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Breast cancer symptoms include painless or painful lump in the breast or axilla, change in the shape of the breast, skin changes like dimpling or thickening over the mammary area, bloody nipple discharge and nipple inversion.
Screening of breast cancer should begin at the age of 40 years for every woman and it can be earlier for women with high-risk factors like familial predisposition.
Clinical Breast examination and self-breast examination at regular intervals are widely used to screen in areas where accessibility to mammography (mammogram) may be limited. They have proven to be an effective screening tool to reduce breast cancer mortality in low-income countries.
The radiological modalities to screen breast cancer include, mammogram, sono mammogram, Ultrasound and MRI Breast.
During the XRay Mammogram, the breast tissue is placed between two plates and compressed using a paddle that last less than 15-20seconds so that the low dose X-Rays pass through them and then produce an image from the front and the side which are later read by the treating doctor. It is a non-invasive, cost effective and painless outpatient tool for both screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.
Ultrasound may be used along with mammogram (sono mammogram) to further evaluate an abnormality that has been detected in X Ray Mammogram or in special conditions like pregnancy or in younger age groups. MRI screening is done usually in patients who have a higher risk of developing breast cancers.
Some things that we can do to reduce our risk of developing breast cancer includes: maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight, being physically active to avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, to promote breast-feeding for an adequate period, and to avoid hormone therapy.
Screening programmes help in detecting breast cancer early, thereby, reduces the need for rigorous treatment. It improves the outcomes and success rates in all our patients.
The key to fight the battle against breast cancer remains in early detection and treatment, hence I recommend all women or men to reach out to the doctor for any concerned symptoms and to begin your screening programme at the earliest.
(Author: Dr Sangeetha K Parthiban, Senior Consultant Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bangalore)
See more: Weight Loss Tips to Lose Inches of Stubborn Belly Fat in a Healthy Way
The non-modifiable risk factors for breast cancer include age more than 50 years, genetics and family history, although currently, there is a slight increasing trend among women under 50 years due to various other reasons. Other contributing factors that can be modified include obesity, alcohol intake, consumption of hormonal prescriptions, breast-feeding, age of childbirth and age of menstruation. Delaying childbirth after 35 years and starting menstruation before the age of 12 years may slightly increase our risk of breast cancer.
Video
Breast cancer symptoms include painless or painful lump in the breast or axilla, change in the shape of the breast, skin changes like dimpling or thickening over the mammary area, bloody nipple discharge and nipple inversion.
Screening of breast cancer should begin at the age of 40 years for every woman and it can be earlier for women with high-risk factors like familial predisposition.
Clinical Breast examination and self-breast examination at regular intervals are widely used to screen in areas where accessibility to mammography (mammogram) may be limited. They have proven to be an effective screening tool to reduce breast cancer mortality in low-income countries.
The radiological modalities to screen breast cancer include, mammogram, sono mammogram, Ultrasound and MRI Breast.
During the XRay Mammogram, the breast tissue is placed between two plates and compressed using a paddle that last less than 15-20seconds so that the low dose X-Rays pass through them and then produce an image from the front and the side which are later read by the treating doctor. It is a non-invasive, cost effective and painless outpatient tool for both screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.
Ultrasound may be used along with mammogram (sono mammogram) to further evaluate an abnormality that has been detected in X Ray Mammogram or in special conditions like pregnancy or in younger age groups. MRI screening is done usually in patients who have a higher risk of developing breast cancers.
Some things that we can do to reduce our risk of developing breast cancer includes: maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight, being physically active to avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, to promote breast-feeding for an adequate period, and to avoid hormone therapy.
Screening programmes help in detecting breast cancer early, thereby, reduces the need for rigorous treatment. It improves the outcomes and success rates in all our patients.
The key to fight the battle against breast cancer remains in early detection and treatment, hence I recommend all women or men to reach out to the doctor for any concerned symptoms and to begin your screening programme at the earliest.
(Author: Dr Sangeetha K Parthiban, Senior Consultant Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bangalore)
See more: Weight Loss Tips to Lose Inches of Stubborn Belly Fat in a Healthy Way
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