New Delhi: Breast cancer incidence is on the rise and in our country, we are looking at a scenario wherein we would be seeing close to 2.5lac new cases a year by 2025. The worrying bit is that about 15-20% of these ladies would be younger than 40 years. In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Geeta Kadayaprath, Senior Consultant – Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centre, New Delhi, spoke about the increasing prevalence of breast cancer.
While annual mammograms will remain a pipe dream for most women of our country with limited means, one cannot emphasise the importance of being breast-aware enough. I would go a step further and say that there is no age bar to being breast-aware. Start early, as early as 20 years, and start getting familiar with your breasts. Feeling your breasts diligently and consistently, not only familiarises you with your ‘normal’ breasts but also lays the foundations for picking up any abnormality early. It would help if you were looking for a painless lump of recent origin, spontaneous nipple discharge or indrawing of the nipple dimpling of skin change in skin texture, or change in the size of the breasts. Spending 3 minutes once a month, a week after your periods is all that it takes. Your normal breast could be lumpy/ bumpy but you have to get used to feeling it to know your normal.
It is up to you to find it before it finds you. Let us start talking about it and get rid of the hesitancy that comes with talking about one’s breasts. Remember, early detection is the key to beating breast cancer. With improved treatments more and more women are not only beating breast cancer but living complete lives with their breasts intact and discovering their new-spirited selves. Talk about breasts, breast cancer, and awareness without embarrassment and spread the word.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Being the most common form of cancer reported in women living in metropolitan India, breast cancer needs extra focus and for the same, being aware of the symptoms is a must. Read on to know the early signs of breast cancer:
Lump in the breast
Nipple discharge
Lump in the armpit
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Pain in the breast or armpit that does not go away
Dimpling, redness, or changes in the skin of the breast
Breast cancer incidence is on the rise and in our country, we are looking at a scenario wherein we would be seeing close to 2.5lac new cases a year by 2025. The worrying bit is that about 15-20% of these ladies would be younger than 40 years. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
